PIKEVILLE, Ky. (LEX 18) — An eastern Kentucky doctor and his assistant wife pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to unlawfully distributing opioids, a prosecutor said.
Scotty Akers, 48, and Serissa Akers, 33, both of Pikeville, admitted to using Facebook messenger to sell unnecessary prescriptions, a statement from U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan Jr. said. Serissa Akers exchanged prescriptions written by her husband for cash in parking lots around Pikeville, according to their plea agreements. The defendants said they performed no physical examinations on patients, kept no records and did not use any methods to prevent opioid abuse, the agreement stated.
“The unlawful distribution of opioids by medical professionals is unacceptable,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “We will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute these important cases.”
Sentencing was set for November 20.
