Dr. Robert Gene Rand, a Reno physician who operated Rand Family Care, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter of a patient and unlawful distribution of oxycodone.
This sentence is the result of an investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Rand, 54, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du.
In addition to the prison term, Rand was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $25,000 fine.
According to the plea agreement, Rand admitted that he acted with gross negligence by prescribing an excessive amount of oxycodone to a patient in reckless regard for the patient’s life.
Despite warnings by another doctor and the patient’s mother, Rand continued to prescribe oxycodone to the patient leading to the patient’s overdose and death in October 2015.
Rand also admitted that from March 2011 to April 2016 he prescribed a total of 23,645 oxycodone 30 mg pills without a legitimate medical purpose to a second patient.
In addition to oxycodone, Rand prescribed the second patient Percocet, hydrocodone, and fentanyl as well as other substances such as carisoprodol and alprazolam.
The second patient did not undergo any toxicology tests and Rand allowed another person to pick-up the oxycodone prescriptions for the second patient.
(Some people might think prescription opioids are safer than alcohol or illegal drugs, but the truth is they carry serious risks and side effects. Talk with your doctor about your concerns and make informed decisions about pain management together. Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and YouTube)
Rand and eight others, including Richard Winston West II, aka “Richie West,” the former manager of the Jones-West Ford dealership, were indicted May 11, 2016 on federal prescription drug distribution charges.
Co-defendants West, 40; Omar Ahsan Ahmad, 32; Joshua Ross Green, 34; Clint Mitchell Bloodworth, 41; Kathleen Griffin, 43; Alan Russel Martinez, 61; and Braden Kyle Riley, 40, all of Reno; and Ryan Daniel Smith, 40, of Carson City, all have pleaded guilty for their involvement in the prescription drug conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing.
Along with DEA, this case was investigated by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Enforcement, Reno Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Carson City Sheriff’s Office, Susanville, California Police Department, Nevada Department of Corrections, Nevada Gaming Control, Nevada Department of Public Safety, Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, and the State of Nevada Division of Welfare, Office of Investigations and Recovery.
(Prescription opioids can be addictive and dangerous. It only takes a little to lose a lot. Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and YouTube)
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Keller.
Nearly two million Americans abused or were dependent on prescription opioids in 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Overdoses involving opioids killed more than 28,000 people in 2014, and over one-half of those deaths were from prescription opioids.
In 2016, more than 64,000 Americans died from drug overdoses including illicit drugs and prescription opioids – nearly double in a decade.
For information on opioid overdose and how someone can manage pain without prescription drugs, visit http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/opioids/index.html.
If you have a tip or information about illegal sales or distribution of prescription opioids, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, etc., by doctors and pharmacies call the DEA at 1-877-RX-Abuse (1-877-792-2873).
