A 61-year-old Rossville, Ga., woman known as "Aunt Bea" was sentenced on Friday to serve 280 years in federal prison in connection with her operation of a Brainerd "pill mill."
Barbara Lang appeared before Judge Curtis Collier.
After a 25-day trial that spanned almost three months, Ms.
Lang was convicted of two counts of conspiring to distribute and dispense Schedule II and IV controlled substances, outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose; five counts of maintaining a premises for the purpose of distributing controlled substances; and 14 counts of structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements.
Ms. Lang was charged along with three other individuals. Her daughter, Faith Blake, pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally distribute drugs through Superior One medical clinic, a business she operated with her mother. Ms. Blake also pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally distribute drugs through Elite Care, another Chattanooga pain clinic that she operated. Additionally, she pleaded guilty to obstructing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and failure to appear for a federal court proceeding.
Sentencing for Ms. Blake is set for Oct. 1 at 9 a.m. in U.S. District Court in Chattanooga.
Dr. Jerome Sherard, Superior One’s medical director, pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally distribute drugs at Superior One Medical Clinic and at the Sherard Clinic, his own practice. He was sentenced to serve five years in federal prison. Sherard was also ordered to forfeit $192,956.31 to the United States.
U.S. Attorney Bill Killian said, "We are very pleased with this very lengthy sentence given to this defendant, who disbursed these very addictive drugs to many people over a long period of time. Illegal opioid pain medication distribution organizations, such as this, contribute to an epidemic of addiction in the United States. We thank the cooperative work of the federal, state and local agencies, who investigated this case and participated in this very lengthy trial. She will never be able to participate in the illegal distribution of prescription drugs again.”
Daniel R. Salter, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Atlanta Division stated, “The dispensing of addictive prescription pain medication under the guise of a doctor’s care is not about the good of the community or an individual’s specific health needs; it is about greed and those involved in “pill mill” activity are in fact drug dealers. The sentencing of this defendant makes the Chattanooga area a safer place today.”
Law enforcement agencies participating in the joint investigation which led to indictments and subsequent convictions included the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); IRS - Criminal Investigation; Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office; Chattanooga Police Department; Roane County Sheriff’s Department; and Rockwood Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregg L. Sullivan and Michael D. Porter represented the United States at trial. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Stone prosecuted other individuals involved in the drug conspiracies.
Attorney Bryan Hoss said, "Today the federal government issued a press release regarding Aunt Bea's 280 year sentence.
"For those who don't know, she's 61 years old, has no criminal record, never sold a drug, signed a prescription or forged a prescription. Ever. She never examined any patient, altered any medical record, or inserted herself in the medical decision-making process. She has zero medical training and has never been a nurse.
"To sentence this lady to 280 years is the most disheartening thing I've ever witnessed in my career. It is the prime example of our government running wild over our rights.
"While she was convicted, and while she should be punished, to receive a sentence that is over 50 times greater than the prescribing doctor in this case makes this a true sad state of affairs for our community. There were over 120 other doctors and nurse practitioners in Tennessee who prescribed these same patients the same or similar drugs.
"We will file a notice of appeal in this case and will start the long journey to try and undue this great injustice."