“Pill Mill” Doctor Charged With Causing Death

On November 29, 2012, a federal grand jury charged Dr. Norman Werther, 73, who operated a physical therapy and rehabilitation practice in Willow Grove, PA, with distributing a controlled substance resulting in death. This is the first such case brought in U.S. District court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The death charge was contained in a third superseding indictment that also added 9 new defendants. According to the superseding indictment, Werther conspired with 6 drug traffickers to illegally distribute millions of dollars in prescription drugs, including oxycodone. The death charge relates to 180 oxycodone pills illegally dispensed by Werther to an individual who died from an overdose. Werther faces a mandatory 20 years and maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of all charges.