SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that a Shreveport optometrist pleaded guilty Monday to writing prescriptions for non-patients and non-medical purposes.
Charles D. Shanks, 63, of Shreveport, entered a conditional guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark L. Hornsby for one count of distributing or dispensing a controlled substance. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Shanks, a Shreveport optometrist, wrote dozens of prescriptions for codeine and hydrocodone in 2012 and 2013 from pharmacies and wholesale distributors that were for non-patients and not for valid medical purposes.
Shanks faces up to 10 years in prison, two years of supervised release and a $500,000 fine. A sentencing date of Jan. 11, 2016 was set.
The DEA conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
