BOSTON - Five men were arrested and charged in federal court this morning with distributing heroin, oxycodone, buprenorphine and clonazepam at the VA Medical Center in Bedford, Mass.
David DeJesus, 51; Scott Houtchens, 49; Steven Jakaitis, 49, all of Lowell; David Porterfield, 44, of Saugus; and David Robson, 52, of Tewksbury, were each charged in complaints with distributing controlled substances including heroin, oxycodone, buprenorphine (used to treat opioid addiction) and clonazepam (used to treat seizure and panic disorders) and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
The complaints allege that the defendants each sold controlled substances on the VA Medical Center’s Bedford campus. The VA Medical Center in Bedford provides multiple services to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, including alcohol and drug abuse/addiction rehabilitation services. In some cases, the complaints allege that the defendants were selling drugs that had been prescribed and provided to them by medical professionals at the VA Medical Center.
If convicted on these charges, DeJesus, Jakaitis and Robson each face up to 20 years in prison to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a $1 million fine. Houtchens faces up to 10 years in prison, to be followed by at least two years of supervised release and a $500,000 fine. Porterfield faces up to five years in prison to be followed by at least one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Jeffrey G. Hughes, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office; Chief John C. Duffey of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police Service, Bedford VA Medical Center; and Kevin L. Lane, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Boston Field Division made the announcement. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda P. M. Strachan of Ortiz’s Health Care Fraud Unit.
The details contained in the complaints are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
