Signature Pharmacy Case Tossed Out

[warchild]

Judge dismisses charges against top Signature pharmacy officials
Sarah Lundy | Sentinel Staff Writer
2:37 PM EDT, September 11, 2008
An Albany, New York judge dismissed charges against the top officials of Signature Compounding Pharmacy, an Orlando family-run business that once raked in $30 million a year.

The decision marks the end of a complex legal wrangling that began in February 2007 with the arrest of Chief Executive Officer Naomi Loomis; her husband and Chief Operating Officer Robert "Stan" Loomis; his brother and head compounding pharmacist Kenneth "Mike" Loomis; and business-development director Kirk Calvert.

Another employee, Tony Palladino, was added to an indictment in October.

New York prosecutors tried to paint Signature pharmacy as the center of an illicit steroids and Internet drug-distribution network.


Related links
2 fined, agree to help Signature probe

Investigators accused the pharmacy of filling prescriptions issued by doctors who never examined the patients in person.

Judge Stephen Herrick wrote in his decision that the case was plagued with "extensive delays" due to the prosecutors presenting the case four different times to two grand juries.

"The court finds that the amorphous quality of the evolving indictments, coupled with the cursory and inadequate instructions in the fourth presentment have impaired the integrity of the grand jury proceedings to such a degree that a dismissal is warranted," he wrote in the 7-page ruling.

And, he wrote that he state can not present the case again -- therefore, ending the criminal process. Signature's Orlando attorney Amy Tingley said her clients were elated when she notified them this morning.

"This has been 20 months of stress and pressure," she said. "They are looking forward to picking up the pieces."

The stream of allegations -- many leaked out of the office of Albany County, N.Y. district Attorney David Soares -- damaged the businesses' reputation and attracted national media.

Signature officials continued to argue that like other pharmacies, it received prescriptions from doctors who sought valid medication for patients in need.

"Signature pharmacy is still in business," Tingley said. "Although the Albany district attorney stopped at nothing to try to hurt its reputation."

[Tesla]

Good news. I'm glad to hear the all-powerful government wasn't able to take this one down.

[MuscleScience]

Thats good news,

[KatsMeow]

The doctors were the ones who got convicted which I think is appropriate. The pharmacy just filled the prescriptions which is their job, how are they supposed to know if the doctors are practicing good medicine or not?

[warchild]

The doctors were the ones who got convicted which I think is appropriate. The pharmacy just filled the prescriptions which is their job, how are they supposed to know if the doctors are practicing good medicine or not?

very good point

[MuscleScience]

The doctors were the ones who got convicted which I think is appropriate. The pharmacy just filled the prescriptions which is their job, how are they supposed to know if the doctors are practicing good medicine or not?

Did the Dr. get convicted?

[KatsMeow]

Did the Dr. get convicted?

yes they did. They actually pled guilty

[Panzerfaust]

Going after the pharmacy is like the morons who go after gun makers for guns killing people.

[Strategus]

Although I know little about the case, I'm aware that it was based on an over-zealous DA from NY State.

I am glad the case was thrown out, as a matter of principle:

1. Restrains excessive government power

2. Upholds HRT.

3. Is in line with the original AMA, FDA, and DEA opinions from a number of years ago that AAS should not be banned/scheduled.

P.S. Thanx Warchild for reminding me @FDA.

I think the way to make things better is precisely this legal route of getting the authoritarians back in their place.

I also was interested in the editorial in <i>Nature</i>, which was published last month. A lot of scientists read this journal, and it helps them to see the disconnect between science and over-zealous anti-hormone policies.

[warchild]

also FDA

[djgoodspeed]

This letter about Signature is going around

From the office of the Attorney General
Office of Statewide Prosecution

Re: The Matter of Search Warrant for Premises Known (excluded) (there are 2 addresses listed)
To Whom It May Concern:

The purpose of this correspondence is to put you on notice that your prescription records were seized pursuant to a search warrant executed at Signature Pharmacy located at (excluded). If you object to a review of your prescription records by the undersigned Statewide Prosecutor and here law enforcement agents, you must file a written objection within 30 days fro the issuance of this correspondence

[Hiphopharry]

Got the same damn letter! I'm thinking two very different things:

1. **** these people they obviously sent this to everyone, why respond? So they know I'm a real person who resides at the address and is scared, so they can try to "talk" to me and scare me and get me to make an admission?? Shred that shit.

or

2. Just put in the protest, then hopefully they can't look at shit, case closed!

I'm a little stressed, but here's my only saving grace:

I have cancer. For real. non-hodgkin's lymphoma; an incurable cancer on the lymphatic system that I am in remission for after going through several hellish months of chemo five years ago- so my need for a script is legit- even the blood work I sent those ****ers has a cancer center's info on it.
I didnt order a ton of gear at all, a few bottles here a few pills there-
I'm just worried they might squeeze me and find out I do MMA and work in local LE myself.

Any advice would be most welcome!!
I am leaning towards shredding that shit, dont make it easy for them to get in touch with me. I opened the letter, otherwise I'd send it back- no such person at address or something. It was a form letter probably their way of getting the nervous people to incriminate themselves.....
I hope this shit is done, even though I have a legit disease, the ****ing stigma associated with juice is pretty messed up in this country.

[warchild]

sorry to hear bout your cancer bro. id shred it, dont give those fvckers an edge

[Hiphopharry]

Thanks,

You know what? I firmly believe that AAS actually helped me out post chemo. They boosted my weight, along with my lagging red and white blood cells. Hey, it's been five years since chemo and I have no evidence of cancer in my body at all!
In those five years, I've done four to five cycles, d-bol, test, var, winny. Each time I got strong, and kept a lot of the weight until I started running again.
The Dr's and the Gvmnt dont want you to get well, shit, neither do co-workers. After my first cycle since the chemo people were accusing me of being "on" (oh course I was, but shit, it was 200 mg test e wkly and 20 mg d-bol per day, with PCT). Not once did anyone say: "Shit, man, you look great, you gained back all that weight you lost from chemo, good for you."- I lost like 20 pounds from chemo, and at 7% bf before chemo, I was a stick.
Point is, yeah, AAS are illegal without a perscription in this assbackwards country, but damn, if you need them where you going to go? Most docs dont know shit about them, and if you workout to begin with they assume you are using them out of vanity instead of necessity.

[dieselmack]

^^^ thats ****ing ppl for you never happy with somebody elses acheivments