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GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) — A 59-year-old Louisiana woman who ran a Waveland internal medicine clinic accused in a prescription pill ring has been sentenced to five years in prison.
In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden fined Peggy Laporte, of Metairie, $5,000 and ordered her to pay nearly $36,000 in restitution as well as forfeit her interest in property and a home, The Sun Herald reported (http://bit.ly/1TCJd1X ).
Laporte pleaded guilty in October to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance outside the scope of a medical practice.
Prior to the sentence being handed down, Laporte's attorney, Karl Koch, apologized on his client's behalf.
"She would like to extend again her apologies for her role and responsibility in this offense, and she does take responsibility," Koch said.
Federal agents arrested Laporte and two others during a May 13 raid at the Waveland clinic.
As part of the plea, Laporte admitted conspiring with her employee Dr. Steve Morris III, 56, at her business, Total Health Solutions Inc., to possess and distribute the anti-anxiety drug alprazolam outside the scope of a medical practice. Morris, authorities said, traded pills for shrimp and gave others away.
Laporte's husband, Ronnie Laporte, said Morris actually ran the operation, but federal investigators disagreed.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Meynardie said Peggy Laporte had worked at a similar clinic in LaPlace, Louisiana, where she learned the prescription pill-mill business.
"This is an offense that was fairly extensive and ongoing," he said. "The defendant has no respect for the law. Therefore, she deserves just punishment. Prescription drug abuse is a serious problem."
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Information from: The Sun Herald, http://www.sunherald.com
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