Pennsylvania Attorney General Corbett Announces The Arrest Of A Former Sayre Doctor Accused Of Violating DEA Privileges

June 20, 2007 -- SAYRE - A former podiatrist from Sayre was arrested yesterday by agents with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation (BNI) for obtaining and ordering excessive amounts of prescription medication for his personal use.

Attorney General Tom Corbett identified the defendant as Dr. Brian Halton, 48, of 1179 Pennsylvania Ave, Sayre. Dr. Halton is not currently practicing as a podiatrist.

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"Because prescription drugs are legal and prescribed by doctors, they do not have the same social stigma as illegal narcotics," Corbett said. "Unfortunately, these medications are powerful narcotics that can be highly addictive and easily abused."

Corbett said that in May 2007 BNI agents were notified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that Dr. Halton had ordered 2,200 dosage units of Vicodin from January 2006 through June 2006.

According to a chart provided by the Automated Reporting and Consolidated Order Systems (ARCOS), Dr. Halton is listed as the fourth largest purchaser of Vicodin in Pennsylvania.

Corbett said an investigation into Dr. Halton's activity revealed that he had allegedly been ordering Vicodin and having the medication shipped to his personal address in Sayre. The criminal complaint states that from July 2006 to March 2007, Dr. Halton had allegedly ordered 10,200 Vicodin tablets.

On May 23, a BNI and DEA agent visited Dr. Halton at his residence and confiscated 410 Vicodin pills, 168 four-milligram Xanax bars, and 871 10-milligram Diazepam pills.

Corbett said Dr. Halton surrendered his DEA registration and his state medical license.

Dr. Halton is charged with one count obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation or fraud for the 10,200 dosage units of Vicodin.

Halton was arraigned by Sayre Magisterial District Judge Michael J. Shaw and released on his own recognizance. He waived his preliminary hearing.

The case will be prosecuted by Bradford County District Attorney Stephen Downs' office.

(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

Source: Pennsylvania Attorney General