Pubdate: Wed, 11 Dec 2002
Source: Sun News (Myrtle Beach, SC)
Copyright: 2002 Sun Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/sunnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/987
Author: Tonya Root
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)

MB DOCTOR PLEADS GUILTY TO NARCOTICS CONSPIRACY CHARGE

FLORENCE - Federal prosecutors can add another name to the list of 
witnesses who could testify against Dr. D. Michael Woodward and four other 
Myrtle Beach doctors charged with illegally distributing narcotics to patients.

Thomas P. Delvin, 61, pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court to 
conspiracy to distribute controlled narcotics and money laundering as part 
of a deal to dismiss more serious charges.

Woodward, 45, and the four others are scheduled for a federal trial Jan. 7 
in Florence.

Delvin, who worked with Woodward for a total of 15 months, beginning in 
October 1998, at the defunct Myrtle Beach Comprehensive Care & Pain 
Management Clinic, was considered third in the chain of doctors charged 
with Woodward.

"He was there when most of the other doctors were there," said William E. 
Day II, an assistant U.S. Attorney in the Florence office. "He should know 
a good bit about the clinic."

Delvin faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years 
supervised release for each charge.

Also scheduled for trial Jan. 7 are suspects Michael D. Jackson, 55; 
Deborah B. Sutherland, 52; Deborah Bordeaux, 50; and Ricardo Alerre, 72.

Venkata Pulivarthi, another doctor charged in the conspiracy, pleaded 
guilty Nov. 19 to conspiracy to distribute controlled narcotics.

In Delvin's six-page plea agreement filed Dec. 6, he agreed to take a 
polygraph test and be truthful with prosecutors and Drug Enforcement 
Administration agents. Delvin's statements, which could incriminate him, 
will not be used against him unless prosecutors learn he has been 
untruthful, Day said.

"We have not made any promises to Dr. Delvin regarding his sentencing and 
will advise the court of his cooperation," Day said during Delvin's hearing.

Delvin pleaded guilty to distributing narcotics that contained hydrocodone, 
which includes Lorcet, Lortab and Vicodin.

DEA agent Allen Alexander testified that Delvin worked for Woodward from 
October 1998 to January 1999 and then again from April 2000 to April 2001. 
During that time, Delvin dispensed 3,052 kilograms of Oxycodone, the main 
ingredient of OxyContin.

"It was common practice of Dr. Delvin ... to give cursory exams without any 
physical examinations," Alexander said.

One patient told DEA agents of receiving 240 Lorcet tablets in a two-month 
period, and another patient reported receiving 968 hydrocodone pills in six 
months, Alexander testified. Delvin also received $160,000 from an account 
that held monies paid to the clinic from health care fraud, he said.

Delvin will be sentenced at a later date after officials have prepared a 
report containing his criminal history and background information.

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Thomas Delvin, 61, was one of seven Myrtle Beach doctors charged in a 
conspiracy to illegally distribute narcotics such as OxyContin. He worked 
for Dr. D. Michael Woodward at the defunct Myrtle Beach Comprehensive Care 
& Pain Management Clinic for 15 months, beginning in October 1998.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom