Melvin Williams, 46, of Westover, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Peter J. Messitte to 151 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone.
A total of 13 were indicted for conducting an organized pain-killer pill distribution ring for three full years from 1998 to 2002.
According to the statement of facts presented to the court: Melvin Williams conspired with others to obtain oxycodone and Oxycontin from retail pharmacies throughout Maryland using fraudulent prescriptions so that they could redistribute the drugs to others. Williams served as a “runner” who submitted fraudulent and forged prescriptions for Oxycontin 40 mg, Oxycontin 80 mg and oxycodone products such as Percocet and Endocet to pharmacies throughout Maryland. To pay for the prescriptions, the conspirators purchased or stole health insurance cards, primarily those issued by the Maryland Medicaid program. After obtaining the drugs, Williams would pass them on to co-defendant John Lee Fulton, Sr., and others. Illegally obtained controlled and non-controlled prescription drugs were then resold to individuals for their personal use or to individuals who, in turn, resold them to others. The organization is believed to be responsible for over 2,000 fraudulent prescriptions for high-powered drugs such as Oxycontin, Roxicet, Endocet and Percocet.
The other eleven defendants pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone; the remaining defendant, William Henry Muldrow, is scheduled for trial on December 6, 2005, reports U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Food and Drug Administration, Anne Arundel County Police Department, Baltimore County Police Department, Howard County Police Department, and the Montgomery County Police Departmen. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Donna C. Sanger and Patrick M. Pericak.