Dr Phil Astin turns himself in / Arrested / Indictment conference highlights / More

Firstly:

Fox News just reported that the investigation into Chris Benoit's doctor revealed that Dr. Phil Astin is accused with supplying "Benoit with a ten month supply of steroids, every three or four weeks, from May 2006 to May 2007."


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Secondly:

AP has a story today stating that The personal doctor of Chris Benoit, Dr. Phil Astin, has surrendered to authorities to face a federal charge in connection with a drug probe. His lawyer Manny Arora said Astin will face a charge involving improperly prescribing medication at a hearing later today. Last week I suggested that WWE should be proactive and toughen the standards of their Wellness Policy to show the federal government that they take drug use seriously. Now that this probe has gone federal, they definitely need to do so. The Winnipeg Sun has a good article pointing out some flaws in WWE's current policy, which you can read by clicking here. WWE needs to lower their steroid ration from 10:1 to 4:1 to comply with established standards. They also need to have extensive documentation and discuss every case where a wrestler provides a prescription to use steroids. Making those changes would show anyone who inquired that they are being proactive concerning this situation.


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Third:

The Associated Press report on Chris Benoit's personal physician, Dr. Phil Astin, being charged with seven counts of improperly dispending medication to patients beyond Benoit reads as follows:

Benoit doctor charged in drug probe
ATLANTA (AP) ? The personal doctor of Chris Benoit was charged Monday with improperly dispensing painkillers and other drugs to patients other than the pro wrestler.

The seven-count indictment said Dr. Phil Astin dispensed drugs including Percocet, Xanax, Lorcet and Vicoprofen between April 2004 and September 2005.

The recipients were identified in the indictment by the initials O.G. and M.J. Benoit's initials were not listed.

Astin was expected to make an initial court appearance Monday afternoon.
A criminal complaint was also filed, but was under seal. A law enforcement official close to the case, who spoke on condition of anonymity before the hearing, said the case involves steroids.

Federal drug agents have taken over the probe into whether Astin improperly prescribed testosterone and other drugs to Benoit before the wrestler killed his wife and son and committed suicide in his suburban Atlanta home last month. State prosecutors and sheriff's officials are overseeing the death investigation.

Federal prosecutors are seeking the forfeiture of all property and proceeds Astin obtained through the illegal conduct if he's convicted.

Investigators have conducted two raids at Astin's west Georgia office since last week.

Astin prescribed testosterone for Benoit, a longtime friend, in the past but has not said what, if any, medications he prescribed when Benoit visited his office June 22, the day authorities believe Benoit killed his wife.

Toxicology tests on Benoit's body have not yet been completed, Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard said.

Anabolic steroids were found in Benoit's home, leading officials to wonder whether the drugs played a role in the killings. Some experts believe steroids can cause paranoia, depression and violent outbursts known as "roid rage."

"We're still asking questions and searching for answers with regard to the death so we can tie up loose ends," Ballard said.

Ballard said finding a motive in the case remains elusive.

"I think it will always be undetermined as to 'Why?'" Ballard said. "I think it's because there can't be any satisfactory reason why you kill a 7-year-old."
Authorities have said Benoit strangled his wife and son, placing Bibles next to their bodies, before hanging himself on the cable of a weight-machine in his home.

Benoit's father, Michael, said Monday that "it's impossible to come up with a rational explanation for a very irrational act."

"That's my feeling. Let the cards fall where they fall, we have no control over it at this point," he said. "It's just impossible to come up with a rational explanation for what happened."


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Fourth:

David Nahimas, the United States District Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia held a press conference in regard to the indictment brought upon against Chris Benoit's personal physician, Dr. Phil Astin this afternoon.

Notes of interest from the press conference:

-A federal grand jury charged today indicted Dr. Astin with "illegal distribution of prescription drugs, that is controlled substances including percocet, aderal, and Xanax outside the usual scope of medical practice and not for the use of medical purposes."

-Astin was originally charged in a criminal complaint last Friday after the raid on his medical office last week stemming from the Chris Benoit tragedy.

-Dr. Phil Astin appeared in court this afternoon and was released on $125,000 "secured bond" with a number of conditions, including the surrender his medical license, his DEA certificate, and being placed with an electronic monitor.

- The seven counts against Astin are based on seven dates he prescribed multiple prescriptions for two patients (listed by the Associated Press as having the initials M.J. and O.G.), with some prescriptions not even being dated. It was noted federal law requires the signature and dating of the prescription for a controlled subject on the date the prescription is issued.

-The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible once agents review evidence and documents taken during their raids and/or additional materials are uncovered.

-a "preliminary review" of Astin's prescription writing activity, "indicated that he authorized one million dosage units of various pharmaceutical controlled substances in the past two years, including significant quantities of an injectable anabolic steroid."

-While the federal investigation is focusing on the illegal distribution of controlled substances, Fayetteville County DA Scott Ballard remains in charge of the local investigation into the Benoit tragedy. They will continue to coordinate as necessary.



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The Drug Enforcement Agency issued the following press release this afternoon:

Doctor Charged with Illegal Drug Distribution
Dr. Astin Allegedly Provided Over A Million Doses of Prescription
Drugs and Steroids in Two Year Period

JUL 2 -- ATLANTA--Dr. Phillippe C. Astin, III, 52, of Carrollton, Georgia, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegal distribution of prescription drugs, including Percocet, Adderall, Lorcet, and Xanax, outside the usual scope of medical practice and not for legitimate medical purposes. Astin was charged today in a seven-count criminal indictment and made his initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda T. Walker. Astin was initially charged in a federal criminal complaint issued last Friday, after DEA agents and officers from the Fayette and Carroll County Sheriff's Offices executed search warrants at his medical office last week.

David E. Nahmias, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, said, "Prescription drugs are controlled substances because if they are abused, they can cause serious addiction, illness, or even death. Dr. Astin allegedly prescribed such drugs like candy, with little regard for appropriate medical practice or the recipients' health. Dirty doctors should be on notice that they face federal prosecution and prison time as we work with the DEA and other law enforcement partners to protect the health and safety of our communities."

“Addressing the problem of the diversion and abuse of controlled pharmaceuticals is a top priority for DEA,” said Rodney G. Benson, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “I would like to add that the purchase of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs over the internet continues to be a major issue. An internet search of steroids and pharmaceutical products over the internet both yield over 2 million hits. The diversion of these drugs through doctor shopping, improper prescribing and rogue internet pharmacies continues to be a major concern. We want to make it clear that through our investigative techniques, those held responsible for the distribution of such products will ultimately be brought to justice.”

According to Nahmias, documents and information presented in court: The indictment charges that Astin prescribed several prescription drugs, which are controlled substances, including Percocet (oxycodone), Adderall (amphetamine), Lorcet (hydrocodone), and Xanax (alprazolam), to two patients who are not identified by name. For one patient, the prescriptions began in April of 2004 and continued for more than a year. The indictment identifies seven dates on which the prescriptions were issued to the two patients. According to the indictment, these patients received multiple prescriptions for the drugs, all on the same date, even though some of the prescriptions were undated. Federal law requires medical practitioners to sign and date each prescription for controlled substances on the date that it is issued.

According to Nahmias, although the indictment identifies prescriptions written on only seven dates to two patients, the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible after agents and prosecutors review the evidence, including voluminous documents obtained in the searches. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of all proceeds from and property used to commit or facilitate the alleged crimes.

Last Wednesday and Friday, DEA and local law enforcement officers searched Dr. Astin's medical office, located at 702 Dixie Street, Carrollton, Georgia. Agents also searched Astin's mother's residence, located at 532 Cedar Street, Carrollton, Georgia. Dr. Phil Astin III is registered with the DEA under the provisions of the Controlled Substance Act, to handle and prescribe schedule II through V controlled substances. Dr. Astin is registered at his office address.

On June 25, 2007, local authorities discovered the deceased body of one of Astin’s patients, Chris Benoit, at Benoit’s home located in Fayetteville, Georgia. The deceased bodies of Benoit’s wife and child were also found at the home. DEA Diversion indices, as well as evidence found at the crime scene by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, identified Dr. Astin as the supplier of various pharmaceutical controlled substances, including injectable anabolic steroids, found in Mr. Benoit’s residence. Through prescription records for Mr. Benoit maintained at a pharmacy in Fayetteville, Georgia, Dr. Astin was identified as prescribing, on average, a 10-month supply of anabolic steroids to Mr. Benoit every three to four weeks from May 4, 2006 through May 9, 2007.

While executing a state search warrant at Dr. Astin’s medical office on June 27, 2007, agents and officers seized copies of prescriptions written by Dr. Astin for Testosterone, Xanax, Adderall, Concerta, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, and Soma, which were consistent, in terms of quantities, dosages, and frequencies of the prescriptions, with illegal prescription drug abuse. Multiple undated copies of prescriptions for controlled substances were also found in various medical records.

A preliminary review of Dr. Astin’s prescription writing activity showed that he authorized approximately one million dosage units of various pharmaceutical controlled substances in the last two years. The prescriptions also included significant quantities of injectable Testosterone cypionate, an anabolic steroid.

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Fayette County Sheriff Department’s Drug Suppression Task Force, with the assistance of the West Georgia Drug Task Force, and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department. Assistance has also been provided by the office of Scott L. Ballard, District Attorney, Griffin Judicial Circuit, and the office of Pete Skandalakis, District Attorney, Coweta Judicial Circuit.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Horn and Carol Kayser.

Compiled by LionDen / Thanx to PWInsider.com

ten month supply of steroids, every three or four weeks, from May 2006 to May 2007.. damn thats alot

This tragedy has affected many people and not just the tragic deaths of the family and will have many repercussions that could go on for years.

I did find Benoit was looking impressive for a while, like his body was getting bigger...But who knows... Thanks for the info LD!

Added a press release from the DEA in the first post.

Also, criminal justice website www.TheSmokingGun.com has published excerpts from several documents in regard to the Chris Benoit tragedy, most notably the indictment of Dr. Phil Astin, Benoit's physician today in federal court.

Just speculation but i do believe M.J. could be Mark Jindrak

Yeah, I am not absolutely certain those 2 initials need to be wrestlers, from what I read, there was no mention of that. They could just be 2 other patients of Dr Meds.