Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A Bladen County woman who helped a former doctor operate a “pill mill” in Columbus County, where opioids and other controlled substances were improperly prescribed, was sentenced May 6, 2022 to 60 months in prison for unlawfully distributing oxycodone, hydrocodone, methadone and marijuana, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of North Carolina.

“The defendant helped to illegally distribute opioids, jeopardizing the safety of the community,” said Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “My office will continue to collaborate with law enforcement at all levels to dismantle criminal organizations that are contributing to the drug problems in eastern North Carolina.”

According to court documents, Tammy Lynn Thompson, 57, and co-defendant and former doctor Jong Kim were charged with violating federal drug trafficking laws, stated the release. Kim pleaded guilty to multiple counts and was sentenced earlier this year to 78 months in prison. Thompson pleaded guilty on July 12, 2021 to conspiracy to unlawfully distribute oxycodone, hydrocodone, methadone and marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. §846; multiple counts of distribution of marijuana and aiding and abetting in violation of 21 U.S.C. §841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. §2; distribution of hydrocodone in violation of 21 U.S.C. §841(a)(1); and unlawful dispensation and distribution of hydrocodone and marijuana and aiding and abetting in violation of 21 U.S.C. §841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. §2.

“In 2017, Thompson helped Kim – who had previously been forced to resign from an area medical practice due to concerns over his opioid prescribing practices – to open his own clinic in Tabor City, NC,” stated the release. “From October 2017 to June 28, 2018, Thompson helped Kim unlawfully and improperly prescribe opioids and other controlled substances by bringing in ‘patients’ who paid $200 cash at each appointment.”

According to Justice Department, the investigation revealed that Kim wrote controlled substance prescriptions to virtually every patient he saw and often failed to meet the basic standards of legitimate medical care. “Word spread quickly and the pill mill drew people from across Eastern North Carolina and other states. The volume of patients and associated activity in the parking lot of the clinic created safety concerns for the adjacent Tabor City Elementary School, which was forced to restrict outdoor activities for students until a privacy fence was constructed,” the release continued. “Additionally, Thompson sold marijuana and hydrocodone on multiple occasions at both the clinic and the residence she shared with Kim.”

In January 2018, a confidential source began conducting a series of controlled purchases from Kim and Thompson, which were audio and video recorded. Search warrants were executed at Kim’s clinic and residence on June 29, 2018 and Kim and Thompson were arrested.

“A medical expert who reviewed Kim’s records found no evidence that Kim was providing real medical care and concluded that Kim was merely exchanging prescriptions for money,” stated the release.

Easley made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Charlotte Tactical Diversion Squad, Columbus County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, DECU investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nick Miller, Tim Severo and Bryan Stephany prosecuted.

READ ABOUT MORE NEWS HERE.