CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Scott D. Tingler, a Morgantown, West Virginia pharmacist, was sentenced today to 121 months incarceration for illegally distributing oxycodone, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Tingler, age 41, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances Outside the Bounds of Professional Medical Practice” and one count of “False Tax Return” in May 2019. Tingler admitted to conspiring with others to distribute more than 7,400 grams of oxycodone in Monongalia County and elsewhere from August 2014 to August 2018. Tingler also admitted to filing a false tax return in April 2015, grossly understating his taxable income.

“Too many lives have already been lost in this great state to opioids. We must hold those who are sworn to help the sick and injured accountable when they choose to break their oath and the law. I’ve said it before, but a white coat will not protect you from prosecution if you are illegally peddling pills or other drugs,” said Powell.

Tingler was ordered to pay $507,942.42 in restitution to the IRS and former employees. A money judgement was also made in the amount of $1,845,000.

As a part of the plea agreement, Tingler agreed to relinquish his pharmacy license and not seek to reinstate the same, and agreed to not seek employment in any position that would require or permit him to handle or dispense controlled substances during any period of incarceration or supervised release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Wagner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigative Division, the Drug Enforcement Administration Tactical Diversion Squad, the Morgantown Police Department, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office and West Virginia State Police BCI investigated. 

These charges are the result of investigations supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) under the Attorney General-led Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS)/Special Operations Division (SOD) Project Clean Sweep.  This initiative seeks to reduce the supply of synthetic opioids in “hot spot” areas previously identified by the Attorney General of the United States, thereby reducing drug overdoses and drug overdose deaths, and identify wholesale distribution networks and sources of supply operating nationally and internationally. 

Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Scott D. Tingler, a Morgantown, West Virginia pharmacist, has admitted to illegally distributing oxycodone, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Tingler, age 40, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances Outside the Bounds of Professional Medical Practice” and one count of “False Tax Return.” Tingler admitted to conspiring with others to distribute more than 7,400 grams of oxycodone in Monongalia County and elsewhere from August 2014 to August 2018. Tingler also admitted to filing a false tax return in April 2015, grossly understating his taxable income.

Tingler has agreed to relinquish his pharmacy license and not seek to reinstate the same, and agrees to not seek employment in any position that would require or permit him to handle or dispense controlled substances during any period of incarceration or probation.

Tingler has also agreed to pay 28% of his unreported gross income from tax years 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. He has also agreed to forfeit any property or proceeds from the drug offense in the amount of $1,845,000, as well as a 2016 GMC Sierra 3500HD truck.

Tingler faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the drug count and faces up to three years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the tax count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Wagner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tactical Diversion Squad, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigative Division, the Morgantown Police Department, the West Virginia State Police BCI, and the Harrison County Sheriff's County Sheriff's Office investigated. 

These charges are the result of investigations supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) under the Attorney General-led Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS)/Special Operations Division (SOD) Project Clean Sweep.  This initiative seeks to reduce the supply of synthetic opioids in “hot spot” areas previously identified by the Attorney General of the United States, thereby reducing drug overdoses and drug overdose deaths, and identify wholesale distribution networks and sources of supply operating nationally and internationally. 

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.