Nebraska doctor Raymond Heller has avoided prison for his role in the criminal case involving the illegal distribution of anabolic steroids by the Max Life anti-aging clinic. Heller pleaded guilty to prescribing the testosterone outside the usual course of professional medical practice. United States District Judge Claire Eagan sentenced Heller to five years of probation with the first eight months under house arrest and 100 hours of community service.
Heller was expected to serve a minimum of 15-21 months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines. But Judge Eagan showed leniency given Heller’s otherwise law-abiding life.
Heller has not escaped his responsibility for a portion of the $685,741 forfeiture against him and his Max Life co-conspirator Edward Franklin Ward. The forfeiture represented the proceeds earned by Max Life from October 2008 until April 2010.
The anti-aging business resulted in the distribution of over 40,000 dosage units of anabolic steroids to individuals from various professions around the United States. Federal prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tulsa indicted Heller since some of the prescriptions he issued were to individuals residing in Oklahoma.
Ward, the owner of Max Life, had hired Heller to write prescriptions for clients of his anti-aging client. Heller was paid a flat fee of $50 for every prescription he signed.
The use of testosterone is a widely accepted treatment for the medical condition of hypogonadism (low testosterone). However, a physician is required to take certain steps before he can issue a valid and legal prescription.
Heller never had direct contact with, much less conducted any direct physical examinations of, any Max Life clients. He was simply paid $50 by Ward for each and every prescription he signed for Max Life.
Max Life owner Ward pleaded guilty in June 2011. He is expected to be sentenced in April 2012.
Source:
Harper, D. (January 26, 2012). Nebraska doctor gets probation in steroids conspiracy case. Retrieved from http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=14&articleid=20120126_14_A18_ANbako301906
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