A Virginia dentist has admitted to fraudulently obtaining hydrocodone and illegally distributing more than 2,500 of the pills.
Newton Carroll Mullins, DDS, 65, who operates the Designing Smiles Cosmetic Dental Center in Wise, VA, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with the intent to distribute and distributing hydrocodone and also one count of obtaining hydrocodone by fraud. He admitted that between December 2012 and March 2014 he ordered 7,400 hydrocodone pills from a drug distributor, supposedly for his practice, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Virginia.
However, the drugs were used by Mullins and his then-girlfriend, prosecutors said. He also admitted writing prescriptions for hydrocodone for his employees, who would fill the prescriptions and give the drugs to him.
He faces up to 14 years in prison and up to $750,000 in fines.
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