NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

BETH PHILLIPS

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.justice.gov/index.html

MAY 12, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR INDICTED FOR

$1.5 MILLION CONSPIRACY TO ILLEGALLY DISTRIBUTE

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AT CARTHAGE CLINIC

            SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a licensed professional counselor at a Carthage, Mo., clinic was indicted by a federal grand jury today for her role in conspiracies to illegally distribute more than $1.5 million in prescription drugs and to engage in money laundering.

            Tammy L. Neil, 40, of Carthage, was charged in a 24-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo.

            Neil, along with a now-deceased doctor of osteopathic medicine (identified in the indictment as “Dr. A”), owned and operated Complete Quick Care Clinic, LLC, 2232 S. Garrison, Carthage. According to the indictment, Neil was responsible for the weight loss department and counseling aspects of the clinic; she was not a medical doctor and was not licensed to dispense controlled substances.

            “Dr. A” was known in the Carthage area as a physician who liberally prescribed drugs on request, the indictment says, and was referred to as “the candy man.” Through “Dr. A,” the clinic purchased significant amounts of controlled substances. For example, the indictment says, the clinic was the highest volume purchaser of hydrocodone in the state of Missouri in 2006.

            Today’s indictment alleges that Neil and “Dr. A” dispensed large quantities of prescription drugs outside the usual course of professional medical practice and for no legitimate medical purpose, including phentermine.

            Neil is charged with participating in a conspiracy to illegally distribute phentermine from Jan. 1, 2005, through March 26, 2008. The indictment alleges that Neil dispensed phentermine, which patients referred to as “synthetic meth,” as part of the weight loss program at the clinic. In addition to the conspiracy, the indictment charges Neil with seven counts of aiding and abetting others to illegally distribute phentermine.

            Neil is also charged with aiding and abetting others to maintain the clinic for the purpose of illegally distributing phentermine and with participating in a conspiracy to use a registration number that was issued to another person in the course of dispensing hydrocodone and phentermine.

            Neil is charged with participating in a conspiracy to engage in money laundering from Jan. 1, 2005, through March 26, 2008. The indictment alleges that Neil aided and abetted others to conduct financial transactions that involved the proceeds of the illegal distribution of prescription drugs. In addition to the conspiracy, Neil is also charged with 13 counts of money laundering.

            Today’s indictment includes two forfeiture allegations, which would require Neil to forfeit to the government any property derived from the proceeds of the alleged offenses, or any property used to commit the alleged offenses, including $1,568,793 that was allegedly received in exchange for the distribution of controlled substances; residential properties in Carthage, Shell Knob, Mo., and Sarasota, Fla.; a 1966 Piper airplane, a 2007 Jaguar, a 2001 Porsche and a 2008 Cadillac Escalade.

            Phillips cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

            This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randall D. Eggert and Cynthia J. Hyde. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Carthage, Mo., Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at

http://www.justice.gov/index.html