Published: May 01, 2008 01:26 pm            

Drug ring uncovered

April 30, 2008 — Medical files for nearly 500 Kentucky residents were discovered April 14 at the office of Dr. Roger A. Browne accused of being the ring leader in the trafficking of illegal prescription drugs into six Kentucky Counties including Carter, Rowan and Elliott.

Browne, 52, was arrested in Coral Springs Fla. and during a detention and removal hearing Monday, Judge Robin Rosenbaum ordered Brown to be held without bond until his trial. The judge said Brown was considered a “flight risk and a danger to the community if released.”

The arrest of Browne involved the work of several state, federal and local police officers, including FADE Task Force.

During Tuesday’s special called Grayson City Council meeting, Mayor George Steele asked those attending to recognize FADE Officer Roy Ison.

“He was the leading investigator who brought down Dr. Browne,” Steele said. “We are very proud of his work in this case and that goes to show those who are involved in drugs that we will go wherever we need to, to protect our community.”

Ison spoke up and said the arrest of Dr. Browne was a joint operation between the FADE Task Force and other area police agencies and the Broward County Police Department in Florida.

Browne was indicted April 3 by a Federal grand jury in Lexington. According to the indictment, Browne conspired with others “to knowingly and intentionally distribute oxycondone” in several northeastern Kentucky counties.

James A. Zwerhusen, acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District Kentucky counties, said Browne allegedly prescribed narcotics to Kentuckians who would then take the drugs and sell them on the streets.

During a court preceding, Monday, April 21, the government presented evidence that a CI (confidential informant) had been receiving oxycodone from Browne. The CI also told officials he sent 15 to 20 other people to see Browne in order to also receive prescriptions. Drew Evans Lane Jr., 31, of Morehead also was mentioned at the hearing as being the “middle man” in the drug scheme.

Other evidence presented at the hearing concerned a Carter County woman named Rhonda Burchett who was arrested Jan. 15 for illegally distributing oxycodone in Carter. The government provided proof that Burchett admitted that she was part of the distribution ring.

Burchett told officials she also had an “intimate, personal” relationship with Browne, and therefore was able to recruit new patients, schedule appointments and specify the quantity and type of prescription narcotics to be prescribed by Browne.

According to Burchett’s statement to law enforcement, she introduced the CI to Browne, and with approval from Browne, the CI also was allowed to recruit new patients and schedule appointments.

The government presented evidence that on Jan. 15 Burchett made a recorded call to Browne and told him she had been arrested. She told him she needed help and would not go to prison for him. Browne acknowledged knowing Burchett but told her he did not know what she was talking about and hung up the phone.

During a recorded call Jan. 17, the CI told Browne he was losing money because people were not scheduling appointments with Browne. Browne then told the CI he would see anyone brought by the CI to his office.

The CI went to Browne’s office March 11 but was informed that he had been terminated as a patient. The office staff also provided the CI with a letter dated Feb. 19 that was signed by Browne. On the same day, the CI made a recorded call to Browne asking him why he had been terminated as a patient.

Browne said he was concerned that the CI was involved in organized crime. “They told me they got some information from Kentucky that you are involved in Kentucky. The case you told me about privately. That you were giving information to save yourself or something,” Browne said during the recorded conversation. The CI then convinced Browne that he could be trusted. Browne then agreed to see him the next day.

While wearing a recording device, the CI visited Browne’s office. “I’m hearing all kinds of stories that you’re turning in people…What you need to do is not tell anybody that you come here…they say you turned informant,” Browne was recorded saying.

Browne then wrote the CI his usual prescriptions for 180, 30-mg oxycodone, 60, 2-mg Xanax pills and 90, 800-mg Motrin but added an additional prescription for 30, 40-mg oxycodone pills.

Later that evening Browne and the CI went out for drinks. Again the CI used a recording device to record the conversations. “Those 40’s really helped. I can make a little money. That’s why it pays to come down here. I appreciate that.” The CI told Browne. Browne replied, “yeah.” The CI then informed Browne that he would bring “two buddies” with him on his next visit. Browne said, “That’s good.”

During another recorded conversation March 30, the CI called Browne to schedule an appointment for him and two undercover officers. The appointments were made for April 15. The office was searched April 14 by officials who found the nearly 500 medical files on people from northeast Kentucky.

During the court preceding, Browne presented the sworn testimony of three individuals who testified that Browne is a “fine, compassionate and caring physician.” The government did not dispute the testimony and Judge Rosenbaum found it credible.

However, the government indicated the narcotic substances prescribed at least to the CI, Burchett and their Kentucky cohorts, were not medically necessary in the quantities in which they were prescribed.

Browne was ordered to remain in the Miami-Dade County Jail without bond. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison and fined up to $1 million.

Browne is scheduled to be extradited back to Kentucky within the next few days to face the federal indictment.

        

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