Phenix City Chiropractor and Two of His Employees Arrested on Federal Charges

Montgomery, Ala. –    Dr. Kenneth G. Edwards, 64, a resident of Columbus, Georgia, and two of his employees, Joann Bush, 58, and Andrea Daigle, 40, both from Smiths Station, Alabama, were arrested yesterday after being indicted by a federal grand jury, announced United States Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr. Dr. Edwards owns and operates a chiropractic practice in Phenix City, Alabama.

All three defendants face conspiracy, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges. Additionally, Dr. Edwards and Joann Bush are charged with making false statements and falsification of federal records.

The indictment alleges that Dr. Edwards and his employees orchestrated a scheme to submit false documents to the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). Those false documents related to the physical exams of truck drivers and prospective truck drivers that were conducted at his chiropractic office. The USDOT requires that all truck drivers undergo an initial physical examination before receiving a commercial driver’s license (CDL), and that they have subsequent examinations every two years thereafter to maintain the license. According to the indictment, Dr. Edwards and his staff did not perform physicals that were up to USDOT standards. They would then send forms to the USDOT that falsely certified the truck drivers had passed all of the USDOT physical exam requirements.

If convicted of the most serious charges, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. They also face substantial monetary penalties and restitution.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. Each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by the United States Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan S. Ross and Steven H. Lee are prosecuting the case.