Please E-mail suggested additions, comments and/or corrections to Kent@MoreLaw.Com.
Help support the publication of case reports on MoreLaw
Date: 05-30-2019
Case Style:
United States of America v. Mary Aronson
Case Number: 18-cr-475
Judge: Philip Brimmer
Court: United States District Court for the District of Colorado (Denver County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Suneeta Hazra, Garreth Winstead and Tonya Andrews
Defendant's Attorney: Jon N. Banashek and Kathleen Teresa Alt
Description:
Denver, CO - Pharmacist Headed to Federal Prison and Required to Pay $55,000 in Community Restitution for Illegally Distributing Oxycodone and Amphetamine
A registered pharmacist, Mary Aronson, owner and operator of St. Vrain Pharmacy in Lyons, Colorado, was sentenced for illegal distribution of narcotics before Chief United States District Court Judge Philip Brimmer. Aronson was sentenced to 6 months in prison, to be followed by 6 months of home detention and 5 years of supervised release. As part of the sentence, Aronson was required to forfeit $20,000 and pay an additional $55,000 in community restitution.
The $55,000 community restitution payment is the first of its kind in the District of Colorado and one of the first in the country. By law, the payment will go to two separate victim funds administered by the Colorado Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Justice, including a fund designated to receive federal funds for substance abuse programs in the state.
According to court documents, including the plea agreement, on November 28, 2017, law enforcement agents spoke with a confidential informant who said that Aronson sold her OxyContin pills for over a year-and-a-half, and that she paid $1 per pill. On December 5, 2017, the confidential informant made a controlled purchase that was audio recorded by law enforcement. At that time, the confidential informant provided Aronson $50, who then gave her 20 pills of oxycodone (10 milligram) and 20 pills of amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (20 milligram) without a prescription. Law enforcement conducted two more controlled purchases from the defendant on January 19, 2018, and February 13, 2018. During the investigation, Aronson gave the confidential informant four blank prescription pages and showed her how to fill out a forged prescription. The defendant told the informant “don’t worry, the doctor is dead and will never find out.”
“Prescription opioid abuse continues to be an epidemic that is ravaging our state,” said United States Attorney Jason Dunn. “That’s why we not only seek prison terms for those who choose to violate the law, but we will now begin seeking restitution payments where appropriate to address the public harm being caused to communities.”
“The DEA will continue to investigate registrants who cause harm to the public and fuel the opioid epidemic,” said DEA Denver Division Special Agent in Charge William T. McDermott. “This case shows the opioid epidemic is being fought at all levels to include professionals in a position of trust.”
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Boulder County Drug Task Force.
Outcome: CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE - SELL, DISTRIBUTE, OR DISPENSE
(1s) Imprisonment: 6 months. Supervised Release: 5 years. Special Assessment: $100. Restitution: $55,000. Fine: $1,000.
05/23/2019 44 JUDGMENT as to defendant Mary Aronson (1). Count 1 of the Information: Imprisonment: 6 months. Supervised Release: 5 years. Special Assessment: $100. Restitution: $55,000. Fine: $1,000. Counts 1-4 of the Indictment are dismissed, by Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer on 5/23/19. (sgrim) (Entered: 05/23/2019)
05/23/2019 45 STATEMENT OF REASONS as to Mary Aronson. (sgrim) (Entered: 05/23/2019)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: