Parker Doctor Distributed 14,000 Pills, 2 Patients Died: Feds

DENVER, CO – A former Parker doctor on Wednesday pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally distributing more than 14,000 tablets of prescription drugs and running a money laundering operation. At least two of his patients died of overdoses, court records show.

Between April 2, 2010 and Nov. 9, 2012, Dr. John Alan Littleford, 72, who now lives in Manhattan, Kansas but formerly lived in Parker, allegedly ran an illegal drug operation out of his Parker "pain management" business, the Pain & Injury Clinic.

Littleford was accused of co-conspiring with his office manager and co-owners of two pharmacies in Lone Tree and Parker to dispense unusually high quantities of controlled substances.

At least two of Littleford's patients died of Oxycodone overdoses, court records show. Investigators said they believed that at least six of his patients had overdosed. One who died was Joel Kennedy, a former disabled senior police officer for the City of Westminster, who had been "hospitalized on several occasions for opioid detoxification," after a 2005 bicycle back injury, investigators said. Littleford illegally distributed Oxycodone, Morphine, Clonazepam, and Carisoprodol in high quantities to Kennedy.

The DEA opened a criminal investigation into Dr. Littleford in late February, 2012 after doctors and pharmacists expressed concern at his prescribing practices. Local law enforcement officials had "repeated encounters" with Littleford's patients. The Colorado Medical Board suspended Littleton's license to practice medicine in October, 2012.

On April 30, 2012, Littleford is accused of writing prescriptions to one patient for 840 tablets of 30mg Oxycodone; 120 tablets of 80mg Oxycodone; 360 tablets of Percocet (10mg Oxycodone/325mg Acetaminophen); 240 tablets of 100mg Morphine; 240 tablets of 2mg Klonopin (Clonazepam); and 240 tablets of 350mg Soma (Carisoprodol). Investigators found no file for the "patient" that showed any exam, diagnosis or treatment plan.

A total of seven people were illegally prescribed more than 14,000 pills of various opioids, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxants as well as fentanyl patches and hundreds of vials of injectable meperidine, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a press release.

A grand jury indicted Littleford in April, 2016.

Littleford is scheduled to be sentenced in U.S. Denver District Court on April 23, 2019. He faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $500,000.

The case was investigated by the DEA Denver Division and IRS Criminal Investigation, the USAO's office said.

Image via USAO

Stay up-to-date on Littleton news with Patch! There are many ways for you to connect and stay in touch: FREE newsletters and Email Alerts|Facebook