Former Greeneville, Tennessee Pharmacist Sentenced To Serve 63 Months In Prison

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Robert David McNeese, 39, of Greeneville, Tenn., was sentenced on June 4, 2013, by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S. District Court Judge, to serve 63 months in federal prison. McNeese was convicted for his participation in an oxycodone conspiracy in Greeneville, Tenn., which involved his illegal diversion of approximately 20,000 oxycodone pills.

McNeese, a former supervisory pharmacist and part owner of Corley’s Pharmacy in Greeneville, Tenn., illegally diverted these oxycodone pills from the pharmacy primarily to five other individuals: Chucky Joe Copas, 42, of Johnson City, Tenn., Jimmy Lee Hodges, 39, of Johnson City, Tenn., Terry Lee Scalf, 42, of Johnson City, Tenn., Scottie Wayne Leach, 39, of Watauga, Tenn., and George Eugene Copas, 42 of Johnson City, Tenn. These individuals were all indicted in federal court in the same case and obtained the pills from McNeese for their own consumption and for resale in the Eastern District of Tennessee. Each was previously sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Greer to 92, 46, 156, 30 and 41 months in prison, respectively.

Law enforcement agencies participating in the investigation which led to the indictment and subsequent conviction of McNeese and his co-defendants include the Third Judicial District Drug Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Greeneville City Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion, all of which both provided invaluable assistance during the course of the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Taylor represented the United States.

United States Attorney William C. Killian stated, “We are pleased with the sentence in this case and believe it reflects the seriousness of the crimes committed.”