TAMPA, Fla.—A Florida osteopathic physician and her granddaughter have been sentenced to prison for unlawful opioid distribution.
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A U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Janet Pettyjohn, 78, of Spring Hill, to three years in federal prison and Shelly Gallagher, 34, of Brooksville, to six years in federal prison for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute drugs.
As part of her sentence, Ms Pettyjohn was also ordered to forfeit $34,132, the proceeds of the criminal conduct. Both Pettyjohn and Ms Gallagher pleaded guilty in May 2024.
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Court documents reveal that Ms Pettyjohn, an osteopathic physician licensed in Florida, continued to prescribe opioids in violation of a July 2020 order by Florida’s Board of Osteopathic Medicine (BOM), which had restricted her from prescribing opioids due to complaints. The BOM lifted the restriction in March 2021.
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Ms Gallagher, Pettyjohn’s granddaughter and not a licensed medical professional, sponsored patients at Ms Pettyjohn’s clinic from March 2021 to February 2023. According to court documents, she obtained controlled substances for herself and others, with Pettyjohn knowingly prescribing these drugs despite clear signs of abuse and diversion.
A search of Ms Pettyjohn’s residence in February 2024 reportedly uncovered $34,132 in cash, which was identified as proceeds from her illegal prescribing activities. Pettyjohn relinquished her medical license and DEA registration in May 2024.
The DEA’s Tampa District Office conducted the investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, and the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Pizzo prosecuted the case.
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