AP News, December 13th, 2007
A doctor known by some patients as the "candy man" was indicted Wednesday on allegations he wrote illegal prescriptions for painkillers for up to 80 people a day, contributing to five deaths.
Dr. Warren Stack was charged with 18 counts, including conspiracy, illegal distribution of a controlled substance, health care fraud and money laundering.
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Stack, who was released after his initial arrest last spring by local authorities.
A message left Wednesday seeking comment from Stack's attorney, Ron Yengich, was not immediately returned.
Stack's office was raided May 16, after undercover officers found they could easily obtain prescriptions from him. Stack, 60, would meet with as many as 80 patients a day at a desk in his waiting room and collect or bill $70 to $200 for each visit, according to the federal indictment.
"Stack would quickly review the patient's file, make an inquiry as to whether the patient's prescribed medications were still working, and issue a new prescription for controlled substances ... without conducting even the pretense of a medical examination," the indictment said.
Stack is accused of receiving at least $750,000 by illegally prescribing oxycodone, OxyContin, methadone, Percocet and Endocet, from November 2005 through mid-May 2007. Two female employees in his office were also charged with conspiracy.
Five people died in 2005-2007 after getting oxycodone through Stack, according to the indictment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rich McKelvie said investigators combed through Stack's records and consulted the state medical examiner's office to determine that painkillers were used in the overdose deaths of five patients.
"They died solely as a result of his distribution of those controlled substances," McKelvie said.
Because of the deaths, five of the 12 illegal distribution charges carry a sentence of 20 years to life in prison, while the others have a 20-year maximum.
Stack's Utah medical license was suspended after the raid at his office in May. In July, he told state regulators he would not challenge that decision.
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Associated Press writer Jennifer Dobner contributed to this report.
