Celina Pharmacist Sentenced In Federal Court

            William Lester Donaldson, 53, of Celina, Tennessee was sentenced on May 10, 2013, by Chief United States District Judge William J. Haynes, Jr., to serve 15 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release and a fine of $25,000 for possessing Hydrocodone with the intent to distribute, announced David Rivera, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.

             Donaldson was a pharmacist in Celina, Tenn. and on five occasions, between August 13, 2010, and October 5, 2010, in various locations in the Middle Tennessee area, he advanced and sold Hydrocodone pills to individuals without a valid prescription.  Donaldson’s conduct was captured by an in-store surveillance system, showing him removing previously prepared bottles from a drawer within the pharmacy and placing them in his pocket.       

            Donaldson was indicted on April 20, 2011, and pleaded guilty to five counts of illegally possessing and distributing Hydrocodone on November 13, 2012.

            This investigation was conducted by the Celina Police Department, the 13th Judicial District Drug Task Force, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynne T. Ingram represented the government.