Catonsville Dentist Charged with Illegal Distribution of Drugs

Baltimore, Maryland - A criminal complaint has been filed charging Kenneth Brian Riley, DDS, age 49, of Catonsville, Maryland, with conspiracy to distribute and the distribution of Hydrocodone. Riley was arrested last night and is scheduled to have an initial appearance later today in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.

The charges were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Ava Cooper-Davis of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division; and Special Agent in Charge Nicholas DiGiulio of the Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General.

“No one is above the law, including medical personnel. This type of illegal conduct cannot be tolerated and will be investigated vigorously by our DEA Tactical Diversion Squad,” stated Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Ava A. Cooper-Davis. “Illegal use of prescription drugs such as Hydrocodone and others can have deadly consequences. Our Tactical Diversion Squad in Baltimore is dedicated to holding individuals accountable for the controlled substances they dispense,” added Cooper-Davis.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, since 1989 Riley has been a dentist and had a DEA registration number to order, dispense and handle controlled dangerous substances. A Baltimore Police Department confidential source (CS) provided information indicating that since 2006, Riley has been supplying the CS with approximately 500 to 1,000 Hydrocodone tablets a week at a cost of $1.30 per tablet. During that time, the CS has purchased Hydrocodone tablets from Riley at his dental office and at his home. The affidavit alleges that during the investigation law enforcement provided the CS with official funds to purchase Hydrocodone from Riley on four occasions from April 15, 2010 to May 26, 2010. During those meetings the CS purchased a total of 3,500 Hydrocodone tablets from Riley for a total of $4,550 and the transactions were observed and/or recorded.

Riley faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy and for distribution of Hydrocodone.

A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Mushtaq Gunja, who is prosecuting the case.