Addiction medicine doctor convicted of drug trafficking, obstruction of justice

FLORIDA – A Florida addiction medicine doctor has been convicted of 19 counts of drug trafficking and obstruction of justice.

United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced last week that a federal jury has found Scott Andrew Hollington, 58, of St. Augustine, guilty of 14 counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances not for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice, and five counts of obstructing justice.

Hollington faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each of the drug trafficking offenses and up to 10 years for the obstruction charges. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Hollington was charged in a superseding indictment on March 23, 2023.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) first learned of Hollington after receiving a tip from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJCSO) that Hollington was exchanging narcotic prescriptions for sexual favors. Following additional evidence of Hollington’s illegal prescribing practices, the DEA deployed five undercover agents to Hollington’s addiction clinic, from February 2022 to July 2022, with the purpose of obtaining prescriptions without a legitimate medical need.

Through their investigation, the agents said they managed to secure a total of 17 prescriptions of schedule II, III, and IV controlled substances, including amphetamines (Adderall), benzodiazepines (Valium and Xanax), and buprenorphine (Suboxone), during the five visits.

Throughout the trial, the evidence showed that Hollington asked the agents about their drug preferences, offered prescriptions without proper medical justification, and admitted that he did not care about urine drug screening results. During most medical encounters with the undercover agents, physical examinations, vital checks, and proper documentation were omitted.

Further evidence revealed that Hollington altered medical notes in each of the undercover agents’ medical files following his indictment, leading to the obstruction convictions.

Testimony during the trial included statements from three female victims who said that Hollington exchanged, coerced, or solicited sexual favors for prescriptions. One victim described him as a “monster” who took advantage of her vulnerability while seeking help for addiction. A fourth victim recounted Hollington asking if she needed a “sugar daddy” and engaging in conversation of a sexual nature instead of discussing her medical history and need for medication.

This case was jointly investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Ormond Beach Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the State Attorney’s Office, 7th Judicial Circuit. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kirwinn Mike and Ashley Washington. Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran is handling the forfeiture of assets.