LEXINGTON, Ky. - A Cincinnati physician, who was convicted of illegally distributing oxycodone pills, was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in federal prison and a fine of $500,000.
Chief U.S. District Judge Karen K. Caldwell sentenced 61 year old Alan Arnold Godofsky for illegally distributing large quantities of oxycodone pills, outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.
Testimony at his trial revealed that Godofsky was hired as a locum tenens physician at the Central Kentucky Bariatric and Pain Management clinic in Georgetown, where he wrote prescriptions for primarily oxycodone pills. According to testimony at trial, Godofsky conducted minimal exams, spending very little time with patients (some who were cooperating witnesses for the government) before prescribing large quantities of oxycodone pills. During his relatively brief employment at the clinic, Godofsky prescribed in excess of 500,000 oxycodone pills.
A federal jury found Godofsky guilty of the charges in October 2017.
The owner of the clinic, Ernest William Singleton, was previously convicted of conspiring to illegally distribute oxycodone and money laundering offenses and three other physicians from the clinic also entered guilty pleas, for illegally distributing oxycodone pills while at the clinic.
“The Defendant’s conduct was a severe breach of the trust of his legitimate medical duty," stated United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. “His sentence should serve as a deterrent for other medical professionals who put greed over patient care and help fuel the opiate crisis through their unlawful actions."
Under federal law, Godofsky must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.
United States Attorney Duncan, and D. Christopher Evans, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, jointly announced the sentence.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with assistance from the Kentucky State Police, Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure and the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron L. Walker, Jr. represented the United States.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
