The US Department of Justice announced that a federal court ordered former New Mexico dentist William C. Gardner, DDS, to pay $320,000 after finding him responsible for unlawfully issuing controlled-substance prescriptions, despite the revocation of his dental license and the expiration of his state-controlled substances registration. 

According to the US Department of Justice (DOJ), Gardner allegedly issued controlled-substance prescriptions between July 17, 2020, and February 1, 2021.  Gardner used his US Drug Enforcement Administration registration number and his office's electronic medical records system to issue 94 unauthorized prescriptions, most involving Schedule II narcotics. Although the government alleged that Gardner issued 94 unauthorized the court found Gardner responsible for 80 unlawful prescriptions and imposed a civil penalty of $4,000 per violation under the Controlled Substances Act.

The DOJ alleged that Gardner violated the Controlled Substances Act by issuing prescriptions after his professional licenses were revoked or expired.

“Because a valid state license is a mandatory prerequisite for federal prescribing authority, Dr. Gardner ceased to legally qualify as a practitioner under federal law,” according to the DOJ press release.

Source: US Department of Justice