Robert Courtney
Encyclopedia
Robert Ray Courtney is a former pharmacist
who owned and operated Research Medical Tower Pharmacy in Kansas City, Missouri
. In 2002 he was convicted of pharmaceutical fraud and sentenced to federal prison.
and described Courtney as an "ideal son." He played the trombone
at Wichita South High School
.
Courtney graduated from the School of Pharmacy at University of Missouri–Kansas City
in 1975. He was a large donor to the school after graduating.
In 1990, Courtney began purchasing pharmaceuticals on the gray market and using them to fill prescriptions at his pharmacy. In time, he began diluting prescriptions to increase profits. Both practices were illegal.
In 1992, he and his first wife divorced; Courtney retained custody of their two daughters. His second marriage lasted four or five days and was later annulled
. In 1994, his third wife, Laura Courtney gave birth to twins.
In 1998, an Eli Lilly
sales representative noticed a discrepancy between the amount of the cancer
drug Gemzar Courtney bought and the amount he sold. Lilly initiated an internal investigation but found no evidence of of illegality and closed the investigation without further action.
In 2001, the Eli Lilly sales representative mentioned the matter to a nurse who worked for an oncologist
in Courtney's building and was also one of Courtney's customers. The oncologist had medication supplied by Courtney tested. When the results showed the prescriptions were diluted, the oncologist notified authorities.
According to law enforcement estimates, from 1990 to 2001, Courtney diluted 98,000 prescriptions, which were given to 4,200 patients. Courtney is reported to have diluted 72 different kinds of drugs.
In August 2001, two months before his arrest, Courtney held total assets worth $18.7 million.
In 2002, Courtney pleaded guilty to 20 federal counts of tampering and adulterating the chemotherapy
drugs Taxol and Gemzar. He also acknowledged that he and his corporation, Courtney Pharmacy Inc., had weakened drugs, conspired to traffic in stolen drugs and caused the filing of false Medicare
claims. He was sentenced to 30 years in Federal Prison.
Courtney was also named as defendant in approximately 300 suits for fraud and wrongful death. In one case, a jury awarded plaintiff Georgia Hayes a judgment in the amount of $2.2 billion.
Investigators reported that before turning himself in, Courtney gave $80,000 in cash, and more than 100 doses of Prozac to his wife.
In 2008, the American Greed
episode titled "Deadly Rx For Greed" recounted Courtney's crimes, trial and conviction.
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
who owned and operated Research Medical Tower Pharmacy in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. In 2002 he was convicted of pharmaceutical fraud and sentenced to federal prison.
Early life and education
Courtney was born in Hays, Kansas. His father was a traveling minister based in Scott City, KansasScott City, Kansas
Scott City is a city in and the county seat of Scott County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,816.-Geography:Scott City is located at...
and described Courtney as an "ideal son." He played the trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
at Wichita South High School
Wichita South High School
Wichita South High School, known locally as South, is a fully accredited high school, serving students in grades 9-12, located in Wichita, Kansas, USA. It is also known as Wichita High School South. The school colors are blue and red and the enrollment for the 2009-2010 school year is 1,657...
.
Courtney graduated from the School of Pharmacy at University of Missouri–Kansas City
University of Missouri–Kansas City
The University of Missouri–Kansas City is a public university located in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. It is a branch of the University of Missouri System. Its main campus is in Kansas City's Rockhill neighborhood east of the Country Club Plaza...
in 1975. He was a large donor to the school after graduating.
Adult life
Before his arrest, Courtney served as a deacon at Northland Cathedral, an Assembly of God Church in Kansas City.In 1990, Courtney began purchasing pharmaceuticals on the gray market and using them to fill prescriptions at his pharmacy. In time, he began diluting prescriptions to increase profits. Both practices were illegal.
In 1992, he and his first wife divorced; Courtney retained custody of their two daughters. His second marriage lasted four or five days and was later annulled
Annulment
Annulment is a legal procedure for declaring a marriage null and void. Unlike divorce, it is usually retroactive, meaning that an annulled marriage is considered to be invalid from the beginning almost as if it had never taken place...
. In 1994, his third wife, Laura Courtney gave birth to twins.
In 1998, an Eli Lilly
Eli Lilly and Company
Eli Lilly and Company is a global pharmaceutical company. Eli Lilly's global headquarters is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the United States...
sales representative noticed a discrepancy between the amount of the cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
drug Gemzar Courtney bought and the amount he sold. Lilly initiated an internal investigation but found no evidence of of illegality and closed the investigation without further action.
In 2001, the Eli Lilly sales representative mentioned the matter to a nurse who worked for an oncologist
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
in Courtney's building and was also one of Courtney's customers. The oncologist had medication supplied by Courtney tested. When the results showed the prescriptions were diluted, the oncologist notified authorities.
According to law enforcement estimates, from 1990 to 2001, Courtney diluted 98,000 prescriptions, which were given to 4,200 patients. Courtney is reported to have diluted 72 different kinds of drugs.
In August 2001, two months before his arrest, Courtney held total assets worth $18.7 million.
In 2002, Courtney pleaded guilty to 20 federal counts of tampering and adulterating the chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
drugs Taxol and Gemzar. He also acknowledged that he and his corporation, Courtney Pharmacy Inc., had weakened drugs, conspired to traffic in stolen drugs and caused the filing of false Medicare
Medicare (United States)
Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other...
claims. He was sentenced to 30 years in Federal Prison.
Courtney was also named as defendant in approximately 300 suits for fraud and wrongful death. In one case, a jury awarded plaintiff Georgia Hayes a judgment in the amount of $2.2 billion.
Investigators reported that before turning himself in, Courtney gave $80,000 in cash, and more than 100 doses of Prozac to his wife.
In 2008, the American Greed
American Greed
-Season 2:Episode #7 The Martin Frankel CaseFinancier Martin Frankel, a con-man who vanished with $200 million dollars. A story of money laundering, prostitution, bizarre sex and drug abuse.Episode #8 When Greed and Giving Collide...
episode titled "Deadly Rx For Greed" recounted Courtney's crimes, trial and conviction.
See also
- Counterfeit drug