Local doctor accused of illegally prescribing drugs

Authorities have accused another local doctor of illegally prescribing drugs.

Federal officials today unsealed an indictment against Kevin Mark Denny, 53, of Tierra Verde, who has offices in Tierra Verde and on North Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa.

Denny is charged with two counts of acting outside the scope of professional practice by dispensing and distributing oxycodone, hydrocodone and alprazolam, the generic form of Xanax. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

In March, federal authorities charged Tampa physician John Rew, 83, with improperly prescribing the same drugs Denny is accused of illegally dispensing.

Investigators searched Denny's home this morning and found crack cocaine, marijuana and "unidentified, misbranded bottles of pills," Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathy Peluso told U.S. Magistrate Thomas B. McCoun III. They also found marijuana in his Tampa office.

Peluso said Denny tested positive for cocaine, marijuana and benzodiazepines, a class of sedatives, after his arrest.

She said Denny was employed by Shiloh Medical Group to work in a "small, one-doctor shop connected to a pharmacy," and was paid to seek patients and write prescriptions. Last month alone, she said, Denny wrote $25,000 worth of prescriptions for oxycodone at Grace Pharmacy.

After his arrest, Denny surrendered his Drug Enforcement Administration license to prescribe, Peluso said. She said his house is in foreclosure and his wife is ill and appears to have a substance abuse problem.

"He was also writing scripts for her," she said.

McCoun signed the warrant authorizing the search of Denny's house. He said the information in the affidavit suggests the defendant "was pretty active in sales of scripts for this kind of product."

McCoun said there also were "allegations [Denny] and his wife cook up crack in the house."

Federal public defender Alec Hall, who represented Denny at today's hearing, said Denny should be released on bond because he has lived in the area for 23 years and has been an "upstanding citizen."

"Clearly, he's not a danger to the community," Hall said.

But McCoun said he was not so sure, suggesting Denny repeatedly sold prescriptions for large quantities of drugs "without regard for medical history."

He ordered Denny be held but said he would allow him to return to court Thursday or Friday to make a case for release.

Officials said patient files from Denny's office are in the custody of the Tampa Drug Enforcement Administration. Patients can call the DEA at (813) 287-5160 for information on obtaining a copy of their medical records.