11 plead guilty in Ky.-Fla. pill ring
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) _ A Florida doctor and 10 Kentucky residents have pleaded guilty in an interstate prescription pill ring.
U.S. Attorney James Zerhusen said Friday that 52-year-old Roger Browne of Pembroke Pines, Fla., admitted that northeastern Kentucky residents went to his pain-management clinic in Florida to get pills and that he knew they would likely sell the pills illegally at home.
A Morehead man, 32-year-old Drew Evans Lane Jr., admitted giving money to people to go to Browne’s office and get pills that contained oxycodone, and he also pleaded guilty to selling pills.
Oxycodone is the ingredient in OxyContin, and the Lexington Herald-Leader has reported that the painkiller is often abused in eastern Kentucky and elsewhere.
Others pleading guilty in the case admitted they got pills from Browne and turned over at least some of them to others to sell.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 9.
Information from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.