Thomas C. Butler
Encyclopedia
Thomas Campbell Butler is an American
scientist specializing in infectious diseases including cholera
and bubonic plague
at Texas Tech University
since 1987. He is credited with making oral hydration the standard treatment for diarrhea
. He is currently a faculty member of Ross University
. Thomas Butler, MD, who previously worked for RUSM and has rejoined RUSM at the beginning of the Fall 2010 semester.
Butler was arrested in 2003 and prosecuted by the United States Justice Department for, among many other charges, illegal transportation of plague samples, tax evasion
, fraud
, and embezzlement
. He was convicted of 47 out of 69 charges and served a two year jail term ending in December 2005, having reportedly rejected a plea bargain
offer.
degree from Vanderbilt University
in 1967 and served in the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit
studying infectious disease, attaining the rank of lieutenant commander
.
. The missing vials apparently triggered a bioterrorism
response plan. Sixty law enforcement officers were sent to investigate, and they arrested Butler after questioning him. The Justice Department accused Butler of illegal transportation of plague samples, tax evasion
, fraud
, and embezzlement
, among other charges. Butler pleaded not guilty in September 2003, turning down a plea-bargain offer for a six-month sentence in exchange for a guilty plea.
, several Nobel Prize winners, and the Federation of American Scientists
. Critics of the prosecution suggested that the aggressive prosecution of a prominent scientist would make other scientists reluctant to carry out research in dangerous diseases for fear of similar prosecutions.
Butler is currently listed on the US Department of Commerce
's Denied Persons list, which prohibits his direct or indirect participation "in any way in any transaction involving any commodity, software or technology... exported or to be exported from the United States that is subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), or in any other activity subject to the EAR."
when security personnel noted "a 12-inch metal canister with black screw tops at both ends, buried in the research scientist's baggage."
This led to his detainment, along with a partial evacuation at the airport and rerouting of planes away from the closest terminals.
After extended interviews and investigations, Dr. Butler was released and allowed to continue on his journey down to Dominica W.I. where Ross University
is located.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
scientist specializing in infectious diseases including cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
and bubonic plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
at Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
since 1987. He is credited with making oral hydration the standard treatment for diarrhea
Diarrhea
Diarrhea , also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day. It is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide. The loss of fluids through diarrhea can cause dehydration and...
. He is currently a faculty member of Ross University
Ross University
Ross University, founded in 1978, is a for-profit college offering degrees in Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. The School of Medicine is located in Dominica, in the West Indies, with clinical education centers in Miami, Florida, Saginaw, Michigan and Freeport, Bahamas. The...
. Thomas Butler, MD, who previously worked for RUSM and has rejoined RUSM at the beginning of the Fall 2010 semester.
Butler was arrested in 2003 and prosecuted by the United States Justice Department for, among many other charges, illegal transportation of plague samples, tax evasion
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
, fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
, and embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
. He was convicted of 47 out of 69 charges and served a two year jail term ending in December 2005, having reportedly rejected a plea bargain
Plea bargain
A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case whereby the prosecutor offers the defendant the opportunity to plead guilty, usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.A plea bargain allows criminal defendants to...
offer.
Early life and education
Butler received his MDDoctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
degree from Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
in 1967 and served in the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
studying infectious disease, attaining the rank of lieutenant commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
.
Arrest
In January 2003, Butler reported 30 vials of plague missing from his laboratory to safety officers at Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
. The missing vials apparently triggered a bioterrorism
Bioterrorism
Bioterrorism is terrorism involving the intentional release or dissemination of biological agents. These agents are bacteria, viruses, or toxins, and may be in a naturally occurring or a human-modified form. For the use of this method in warfare, see biological warfare.-Definition:According to the...
response plan. Sixty law enforcement officers were sent to investigate, and they arrested Butler after questioning him. The Justice Department accused Butler of illegal transportation of plague samples, tax evasion
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
, fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
, and embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
, among other charges. Butler pleaded not guilty in September 2003, turning down a plea-bargain offer for a six-month sentence in exchange for a guilty plea.
Conviction
He was convicted on December 1, 2003 of 47 of the 69 charges filed against him. Of the convictions, three were for improper shipment of plague samples to collaborators in Tanzania and forty-four were related to what prosecutors called "shadow contracts" for his research at Texas Tech.Prosecution
The prosecution of Butler was met with disapproval by many groups of scientists, including colleagues, the National Academy of SciencesUnited States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, several Nobel Prize winners, and the Federation of American Scientists
Federation of American Scientists
The Federation of American Scientists is a nonpartisan, 501 organization intent on using science and scientific analysis to attempt make the world more secure. FAS was founded in 1945 by scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project to develop the first atomic bombs...
. Critics of the prosecution suggested that the aggressive prosecution of a prominent scientist would make other scientists reluctant to carry out research in dangerous diseases for fear of similar prosecutions.
Butler is currently listed on the US Department of Commerce
United States Department of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...
's Denied Persons list, which prohibits his direct or indirect participation "in any way in any transaction involving any commodity, software or technology... exported or to be exported from the United States that is subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), or in any other activity subject to the EAR."
Miami Airport incident
On Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010, Dr. Butler was transiting through Miami International AirportMiami International Airport
Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...
when security personnel noted "a 12-inch metal canister with black screw tops at both ends, buried in the research scientist's baggage."
This led to his detainment, along with a partial evacuation at the airport and rerouting of planes away from the closest terminals.
After extended interviews and investigations, Dr. Butler was released and allowed to continue on his journey down to Dominica W.I. where Ross University
Ross University
Ross University, founded in 1978, is a for-profit college offering degrees in Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. The School of Medicine is located in Dominica, in the West Indies, with clinical education centers in Miami, Florida, Saginaw, Michigan and Freeport, Bahamas. The...
is located.
External links
- Murray, B. E. et al. "Destroying the Life and Career of a Valued Physician-Scientist Who Tried to Protect Us from Plague: Was It Really Necessary?" Clinical Infectious Diseases. v40, pp. 1644–1648 (2005)