A Putnam County veterinarian has been ordered to pay $956,709 in civil penalties after failing to account for nearly 10,000 dosage units of controlled substances, including oxycodone and hydrocodone/acetaminophen. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia announced that Clara Ann Mason, 64, of Winfield, received the judgment following a federal investigation.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers found that Mason ordered thousands of doses of opioids and other drugs over several years. The court determined she did not keep these drugs secured or properly tracked and fabricated records to cover her actions.
Court documents show that between March 2018 and July 2023, Mason ordered large quantities of hydrocodone/acetaminophen and oxycodone HCL from a veterinary pharmaceutical supplier. During this period, she was licensed in West Virginia as a veterinarian and registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to dispense controlled substances.
Records indicate that for three consecutive years—2021 through 2023—Mason ordered more hydrocodone/acetaminophen than any other customer from the supplier. Between January 2021 and January 2023, her orders made up 74 percent of all oxycodone HCL sold by the supplier.
On October 11, 2023, investigators executed an administrative inspection warrant at Mason’s registered address in Winfield. They found controlled substances unsecured throughout the property. Mason could not provide records required by federal law documenting dispensing or inventory of scheduled medications or DEA forms for her purchases. She surrendered her DEA registration number during the inspection.
Investigators seized all controlled substances found on site and identified at least 6,593 unaccounted-for dosage units of hydrocodone and oxycodone along with other missing drugs. Afterward, Mason submitted records claiming she dispensed large amounts of opioids to animals before euthanasia; investigators believe these documents were mostly fabricated. Interviews with pet owners revealed none had seen Mason administer oral medications to their pets.
“The Court concluded that Dr. Mason jeopardized the safety of the community, which has been severely harmed by the opioid epidemic, by failing to properly secure and track these drugs,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “The Court assessed the maximum penalties in this case. This outcome is the result of the excellent work by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), our office’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement and Health Care Fraud Investigative Specialist Tyler E. Japhet, and Assistant United States Attorney Gregory P. Neil.”
“DEA registrants are responsible for handling controlled substances responsibly and ensuring complete and accurate records are being maintained in compliance with the Controlled Substance Act,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Division. “Failure to comply with controlled substance regulations puts our communities in grave danger, and any registrant who fails to meet these standards will be held accountable.”
Further information about this case can be accessed through PACER by searching Case No. 3:35-cv-175.
