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David Nahmias, 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, Xanax, Lorcet and Vicoprofen 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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