Panama City physician settles potential controlled substances violations

FLORIDA – A Panama City physician has agreed to a cash settlement related to potential violations of the Controlled Substances Act, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida has announced.

Timothy Ramsden, of Panama City, Florida, practicing at The Anti-Aging Clinic of Northwest Florida, settled potential violations of the Controlled Substances Act by agreeing to pay a fine of $190,731. In addition, he will reportedly surrender his Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration for Schedule II and IIN controlled substances for a period of five years, along with compliance monitoring for a period of five years, said Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“In reaching this settlement, we emphasize the necessity of adhering to and enforcing the Controlled Substances Act,” said Coody.

“It is our duty to ensure the mandates of the Controlled Substances Act are upheld and that its limits are not abused by physicians.  Our office will continue to ensure compliance with the Controlled Substances Act and all federal laws regulating physicians.”

Ramsden entered into a civil settlement agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida. According to the USAO, the investigation uncovered numerous potential civil violations of the Controlled Substances Act, including:

1. Failing to keep complete and accurate records
2. Failing to properly document the biennial inventory
3. Failing to record the number of units or volume of each finished form in each commercial container on the biennial inventory
4. Failing to indicate the date received on two (2) invoices
5. Failing to properly indicate the dispositions within the patient file
6. Failing to document patient file where prescription for Testosterone Enanthate (5ML) Injectable was issued
7. Issuing prescription for Oxandrolone to patient which was returned to Ramsden for his personal use

In addition to the monetary penalties and surrender of his DEA Schedule II and IIN registration, Ramsden reportedly agreed to compliance terms for the next five years, including record-keeping monitoring and uninterrupted visits from the DEA.

“An important part of DEA’s mission is to ensure all DEA registrants follow the federal laws set forth in the Controlled Substance Act, including accurate inventorying, tracking, and recordkeeping to prevent the diversion of controlled substances. When medical professionals fail to comply with these laws, it puts our communities at risk,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter.

“DEA remains committed to working with our law enforcement and regulatory partners to hold registrants accountable and ensure our communities remain safe and healthy.”

The civil settlement agreement is not an admission of any liability by Ramsden, nor a concession by the United States that its potential claims were not well-founded.

Assistant United States Attorneys Mary Ann Couch, Kathryn Drey, and Marie Moyle represented the United States in this matter, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Diversion Control Program.