Celina Pharmacy Owner Sentenced to 24 Months for Opioid Distribution and Health Care Fraud

Thomas K. Weir, 65, the majority owner of Oakley Pharmacy in Celina, Tennessee, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for his role in a years-long conspiracy to unlawfully dispense controlled substances and defraud Medicare and TennCare. Weir was also ordered to pay $1,419,974 in restitution and to forfeit the pharmacy building and warehouse used in the scheme. His sentence concludes the criminal prosecution of all four defendants charged in the conspiracy.

According to court records, the conspiracy operated for approximately five years between 2014 and 2019. Weir and his co-conspirators operated Dale Hollow Pharmacy and Xpress Pharmacy as sources of controlled substances, despite numerous red flags indicating abuse and diversion. Patients routinely traveled long distances, often in groups, to obtain drugs from the pharmacies. Following a DEA inspection in 2016, Weir entered into an agreement with the DEA addressing violations, but dispensing practices continued and the volume of controlled substances increased.

The conspirators also submitted false claims to Medicare Part D and TennCare for medically unnecessary combinations of highly abused drugs. To boost prescription volume, they engaged in a kickback scheme that included paying patient co-payments, distributing a fictitious currency known as “Monkey Bucks” redeemable for cash, and paying patients cash to fill prescriptions subsequently billed to federal programs. This case reflects the government’s aggressive pursuit of healthcare fraud and opioid abuse, holding accountable those who prioritize profit over patient safety.