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Date: 03-21-2019
Case Style:
United States of America v. Wilton Clinton "Clint" Meeks, III
Case Number: 1:19-cr-00012-JRH-BKE
Judge: J. Randall Hall
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia (Richmond County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Jonathan A. Porter
Defendant's Attorney: John B. Long
Description:
Augusta, GA - Waynesboro pharmacist pleads guilty to felony drug charge
A Waynesboro pharmacist is awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to illegally obtaining opioids for his own use.
Wilton Clinton “Clint” Meeks III, 55, of Waynesboro, Ga., pled guilty to acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, deception, or subterfuge.
According to information provided in court filings and during court proceedings, Meeks acquired Oxycodone from his pharmacy, Liberty Square Pharmacy, that was not prescribed to him. Meeks did so for his own personal use, and the unlawful acquisition of Oxycodone occurred for more than one year.
Oxycodone is a Schedule II controlled substance. While the opioid is often prescribed to treat severe pain, Oxycodone carries a serious risk of addiction, abuse, and overdose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“An inherent tragedy of opioid addiction is that it often transitions from legitimate need to desperate compulsion,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “But that isn’t an excuse for medical professionals to break the law in pursuit of their own gratification.”
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division, said, “DEA, its law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office are committed to stopping medical professionals like Mr. Meeks from abusing their positions of trust.”
The Meeks guilty plea is the result of the U.S. Department of Justice’s ongoing efforts to fight the prescription opioid crisis. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia is committed to using all available remedies under the Controlled Substances Act against doctors, pharmacists, and others who break the law.
U.S. Attorney Christine commended the hard work of the Savannah Resident Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, which investigated Meeks, led by Group Supervisor George M. Taylor and Diversion Investigator Tierra Singleton.
Charge:
21 U.S.C. § 843(a)(3) Acquiring a Controlled Substance by Misrepresentation, Deception, or Subterfuge
(1)
Outcome: 03/19/2019 7 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Chief Judge J. Randal Hall: Initial Appearance and Guilty Plea Hearing as to Wilton Clinton Meeks, III held on 3/19/2019. Plea of Guilty entered by Wilton Clinton Meeks III (1) as to Count 1. (Court Reporter Lisa Davenport.) (lcw) (Entered: 03/19/2019)
03/19/2019 8 WAIVER OF INDICTMENT by Wilton Clinton Meeks, III (lcw) (Entered: 03/19/2019)
03/19/2019 9 PLEA TO FELONY INFORMATION by Wilton Clinton Meeks, III (lcw) (Entered: 03/19/2019)
03/19/2019 10 PLEA AGREEMENT as to Wilton Clinton Meeks, III (lcw) (Entered: 03/19/2019)
03/19/2019 Plea Agreement Accepted as to Wilton Clinton Meeks, III (lcw) (Entered: 03/19/2019)
03/19/2019 11 ORDER Setting Conditions of Release as to Wilton Clinton Meeks III (1) 20,000.00, secured by 10% cash. Signed by Chief Judge J. Randal Hall on 3/19/2019. (pts) (Entered: 03/19/2019)
03/19/2019 12 Appearance Bond Entered Secured as to Wilton Clinton Meeks, III in amount of $ 20,000, secured by $2,000.00 cash. Receipt # AUG025868. (pts) (Entered: 03/19/2019)
03/19/2019 13 ADDRESS AFFIDAVIT by Wilton Clinton Meeks, III. (pts) (Entered: 03/19/2019)
03/19/2019 14 AFFIDAVIT by Owner of Cash Security by Teresa Gordy Lamb as to Wilton Clinton Meeks, III. (Document Sealed) (pts) (Entered: 03/19/2019)
03/19/2019 15 Clerk's Certificate ORDER as to Wilton Clinton Meeks, III. Signed by Deputy Clerk on 3/19/2019. (pts) (Entered: 03/19/2019)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: