The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported recently that Dr. Felicie Wyatt, one of the doctors swept up in the federal “pill mill” investigation known as Operation Pilluted, had been allowed to resume practicing medicine with limits on her prescribing privileges.
As the D-G correctly reported, Wyatt, who works for the VA Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi, and others are scheduled for trial in January for illegally distributing the painkiller hydrocodone.
But the Democrat-Gazette was incorrect in naming Dr. Richard Johns of Little Rock as one of the doctors set for trial in federal court.
At least he isn’t yet.
Johns is currently charged with 187 counts of prescription drug fraud in Lonoke County Circuit Court, and he’s scheduled for trial starting Oct. 7.
But sources close to the case tell Whispers that, just as U.S. Attorney Chris Thyer said was a possibility when the Operation Pilluted arrests were announced in May, federal prosecutors hope to indict Johns.
When that happens, state charges are typically dismissed.
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