Physician Called Flight Risk; He Faces Minimum Term of Years on Drug Convictions ALEXANDRIA -- A prominent Northern Virginia doctor convicted of fueling a black market in potent prescriptions drugs will remain in jail pending his formal sentencing and an expected appeal of his convictions. U.S. District Judge Leonard D. Wexler yesterday refused to grant bail to Dr. William E. Hurwitz, who in December was convicted of 50 charges stemming from a three-year federal investigation into the illegal distribution of medications -- primarily OxyContin, a widely abused and highly addictive painkiller. The investigation resulted in convictions on drug-trafficking charges, authorities said. [continues 416 words]
Jury Informs Judge That It Is Deadlocked On Final Three Counts ALEXANDRIA - The trial of a prominent Northern Virginia doctor convicted of fueling a black market in potent prescriptions drugs ended yesterday when the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the final three counts against him. Dr. William E. Hurwitz, 59, was convicted Wednesday of 50 counts contained in a 62-count drug-trafficking indictment against him and faces a probable life prison term. He was acquitted of nine counts. [continues 531 words]
Jury Convicts Him On 50 Counts, Acquits On 9, Still Considering 3 ALEXANDRIA - A prominent Northern Virginia doctor accused of fueling a black market in potent prescription drugs was convicted yesterday of the some of the most serious charges against him and now faces a probable life prison term. Dr. William E. Hurwitz, whose defunct McLean clinic specialized in treating patients with chronic pain, was found guilty of 50 counts contained in a 62-count federal indictment. He was acquitted of nine counts. The five-woman, seven-man jury will continue deliberations this morning on the three remaining counts. [continues 588 words]
ALEXANDRIA - A federal jury was asked yesterday to decide between two widely disparate descriptions of a prominent Northern Virginia doctor accused of fueling a black market in potent prescription drugs. Did Dr. William E. Hurwitz, as prosecutors alleged in closing arguments, look the other way when he learned some of his patients were selling and abusing the medications he prescribed for them? Or, as defense lawyers contended, is Hurwitz a caring, courageous physician who was duped by a small number of patients enrolled in a practice that helped hundreds of other people deal with their chronic pain? [continues 544 words]
Hurwitz Earned Nearly $900,000 At Clinic Between 1999-2002 ALEXANDRIA - A prominent pain-management doctor accused of fueling a nationwide black market in illegal painkillers earned nearly $900,000 from 1999 through 2002 before his McLean clinic was shut down, according to evidence presented at his trial. Tax returns of Dr. William E. Hurwitz were entered into evidence yesterday as his six-week trial on a 62-count federal indictment neared an end in U.S. District Court. If convicted of the most serious charges, Hurwitz could be sentenced to life in prison. [continues 487 words]
49-Count Indictment Alleges Vast Conspiracy ALEXANDRIA - A federal grand jury indicted a McLean doctor yesterday on charges that he led a nationwide conspiracy to illegally distribute OxyContin and other potent painkillers, contributing to the deaths of at least three patients. Dr. William E. Hurwitz, 57, was named in a 49-count indictment charging him with conspiring to traffic drugs, drug trafficking resulting in death and serious injury, engaging in a criminal enterprise and health-care fraud. "The allegations against Dr. Hurwitz tell a story of a major and deadly drug dealer," U.S. Attorney Paul J. McNulty said. "He is a physician who, under the guise of chronic-pain management, dispensed misery and death." [continues 558 words]
I have been curiously watching the debate going on in the community concerning the Conway School District's possible drug-testing policy. As a recent graduate, my opinion takes a form with arguments from both sides of the debate. Overall, I have absolutely no problem with the policy that the district is considering implementing, nor would I have any problem being randomly tested, and here is why. None of us have any disagreement that Conway's schools are a public, tax-funded institution and require each student to have an equal opportunity to learn and become a well-rounded individual. In addition, every student is entitled to a safe and friendly environment. [continues 347 words]
