Pharmacist found guilty in internet pill mill scheme
May 14, 2009 -- Attorney General Steve Six announced today that Rick Kloxin, pharmacist in charge of Hogan's Pharmacy in Lyons, Kans., was found guilty in an internet pill mill scheme. Kloxin pled no contest and was found guilty of 14 misdemeanor counts of violating Kansas Pharmacy laws.
Kloxin was originally charged along with Hogan's Pharmacy owners Jolane and Mark Poindexter. The Poindexter's preliminary hearing began today in Lyons. Kloxin has agreed to cooperate fully with the Attorney General's Office in the prosecution of the Poindexters.
In March, Kloxin's pharmacy license was revoked and he was fined $62,000 by the Board of Pharmacy represented by the Attorney General's Office.
"Kansas pharmacists play an important role in protecting the health and well-being of Kansans," Six said. "Most pharmacists take this responsibility seriously, but Kloxin violated the law. It is absolutely critical that we hold pharmacists accountable for violations like those found in Hogan's Pharmacy."
The state alleges that the Poindexters and Kloxin distributed prescription-only drugs to people throughout the United States based upon questionnaires customers completed via the internet. The complaint alleges that the Poindexters and their pharmacist violated Kansas law by shipping the drugs without valid prescriptions, by not offering counseling to people who purchased the drugs, and that the Poindexters offered and Kloxin accepted compensation for violating a duty owed to people the drugs were shipped to.
"The internet can be a useful tool, but it can also be dangerous when used to break the law," Six said. "My office is fighting illegal activity involving the internet, like this internet pill mill scheme."
These are only allegations and Jolane and Mark Poindexter are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law.