MADISON, WIS. -- Jeffrey M. Anderson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Dr. Margaret C. Knowles, 52, Amherst, Wis., was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 16 months in federal prison, to be followed by a one-year term of supervised release, for attempting to obtain controlled substances outside of her medical practice. Knowles pleaded guilty to this charge on March 7, 2017.
On May 9, 2013, Knowles, who was a licensed psychiatrist at the time, manufactured three prescriptions for Adderall in her husband’s name. Knowles falsely signed the prescriptions, using other doctors’ names.
Pursuant to the terms of a plea agreement, four additional charges against the defendant were dismissed. Judge Peterson, however, was allowed to consider that conduct in choosing a sentence. That conduct included Knowles fraudulently obtaining Adderall for her own personal use.
Judge Peterson determined that Knowles exhibited “ambitious drug seeking behavior" and that she committed a very serious crime. In addition to the 16-month sentence, Knowles lost her license to practice medicine.
The charges against Knowles were the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter Jarosz and Rita M. Rumbelow.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
