Houston Doctor Sentenced to Five Years in Prison in Federal Narcotics Case

HOUSTON — Richard Arthur Evans, 72, will soon begin serving a 60-month sentence in federal prison after being convicted on 19 charges in a narcotics distribution case.

The Houston doctor was working with David Devido, a pharmacist, who filled prescriptions for oxycodone and hydrocodone written by Arthur, according to the Department of Justice.

Evans was convicted in 2016 on five counts of illegal distribution of narcotics, eight counts of mail fraud, five counts of money laundering, and one count of conspiracy, and was sentenced to five years in federal prison. He was also ordered to forfeit $268,000 in assets and pay a $250,00 fine. He has also surrendered his medical license, according to the DOJ.

The pair's scheme involved Evans charging individuals as much as $240 for a visit, during which he would issue a prescription for the narcotics. According to the DOJ, he told the individuals that he would issue a follow-up prescription if they paid him $200 to $240.

Devido, who according to KPRC Houston was scheduled to be sentenced today, would fill the prescriptions at Briargrove Pharmacy and send them to out-of-state individuals.

According to the DOJ, the pair dispensed approximately 1.6 million units of oxycodone in two years.

— Image courtesy Flickr/David Pacey