Date: 01-08-2020

Case Style:

Case Number: 2:14-cr-00126-RGD-RJK

Judge: Robert G. Doumar

Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Norfolk County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Alan Mark Salsbury, Benjamin Lucas Hatch and Linda I. Marks

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description: Alexandria, VA - The United States of America charged Lawrence B. Ryan with:

Title 18, United States Code, Section 371 - CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE UNITED STATES/Title 21, United States Code, Section 853, and Title 28, United States Code. Section 2461(c)- Criminal Forfeiture
(1)

A Norfolk man pleaded guilty to conspiring to unlawfully sell prescription drugs to consumers without valid prescriptions.

According to court documents, from October 2007 to September 2010, Lawrence B. Ryan, 48, who was then a physician, conspired with RX Limited, an internet pharmacy organization, to sell prescription drugs without valid prescriptions to consumers in the United States. RX Limited sold these prescription drugs, including Fioricet (which contains butalbital, a barbiturate that is a controlled substance), carisoprodol (Soma), tramadol (Ultram), Viagra, Cialis, and others, using a network of its own websites and websites registered and operated by affiliates. RX Limited sent Ryan drug orders for “approval” as a participating physician. These drugs were sold to customers without a valid prescription, because there was no legitimate doctor-patient relationship between Ryan and the customers. Specifically, there was no face-to-face contact, no physical examination, no taking of patient histories, and no checking of the accuracy of information provided by the customers, including qualifying medical conditions. The drugs sold were accordingly misbranded because they were introduced into interstate commerce without valid prescriptions.

“The Department of Justice is committed to protecting consumers from unscrupulous medical professionals who assist others to unlawfully sell potentially harmful and addictive drugs to American consumers,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division.

During the time he worked as a participating physician for RX Limited, Ryan approved more than 158,000 illegal drug orders. Ryan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and to introduce misbranded drugs into interstate commerce. U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller, sitting in the Eastern District of Virginia’s Norfolk Division, accepted the plea. Ryan faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison when sentenced on April 6, 2020.
The Minnesota office of the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case, with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service, and the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations.

For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

Outcome: 01/08/2020 5 Initial Appearance and Plea Agreement Hearing before Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller as to Lawrence B. Ryan held on 1/8/2020. Deft. sworn and advised of rights, charges, and maximum penalties. Plea entered by Lawrence B. Ryan (1) of Guilty to Count 1 ACCEPTED. Sentencing set for 4/6/2020 at 02:00 PM in Norfolk Grand Jury Courtroom before District Judge Robert G. Doumar. Deft. placed on $5,000.00 unsecured bond with standard and special conditions.

Appearances: AUSAs Alan Salsbury and Linda Marks for the Government. Retained attorney Trey Kelleter for defendant. Defendant present. (Court Reporter Paul McManus, OCR.)(lbax, ) (Entered: 01/08/2020)
01/08/2020 6 Waiver of Right to Rule 11 before a United States District Judge by Lawrence B. Ryan filed in open court. (lbax, ) (Entered: 01/08/2020)
01/08/2020 7 WAIVER OF INDICTMENT by Lawrence B. Ryan. Signed by Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller on 1/8/20 and filed in open court. (lbax, ) (Entered: 01/08/2020)
01/08/2020 8 PLEA AGREEMENT as to Lawrence B. Ryan filed in open court. (lbax, ) (Entered: 01/08/2020)
01/08/2020 9 Statement of Facts as to Lawrence B. Ryan filed in open court. (lbax, ) (Entered: 01/08/2020)
01/08/2020 10 Order Accepting Plea of Guilty as to Lawrence B. Ryan. Signed by Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller on 1/8/20 and filed in open court. (lbax, ) (Entered: 01/08/2020)
01/08/2020 11 Sentencing Procedures Order as to Lawrence B. Ryan. Signed by Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller on 1/8/20 and filed in open court. (lbax, ) (Entered: 01/08/2020)
01/08/2020 12 Consent Order of Forfeiture as to Lawrence B. Ryan. Signed by District Judge Robert G. Doumar on 1/8/20. (lbax, ) (Entered: 01/08/2020)

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Defendant's Experts:

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