Court docs: Franklin doctor bought prescription pain pills off patients

FRANKLIN, Ind. - Court documents reveal that DEA agents arrested a Franklin-based doctor after he was caught buying prescription drugs off a patient in a Rural King parking lot in Greenwood.




Dr. Derrick Hasenour, 44, of Bargersville, is charged with dealing a controlled substance as a practitioner, a Level 4 felony; dealing a controlled substance, a Level 5 felony; and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or deceit, a Level 6 felony.

According to court documents, Hasenour is the chief medical officer at Windrose Health Network. He operates out of an office in Franklin where he cares for multiple patients. As chief medical officer, Hasenour oversees 17 physicians at four locations within the Windrose Health Network.




Detectives were tipped off to alleged misdeeds being committed by Hasenour in early May. These allegations claimed Hasenour was writing pain pill prescriptions for patients and then purchasing the pills from his patients.




One informant claimed Hasenour had engaged in this conduct upwards of 50 times.




A joint investigation by the DEA and the Franklin Police Department caught Hasenour in the act. On May 9, Hasenour is accused of prescribing a patient pain medication that included fentanyl and Oxycodone. He then allegedly set up a deal to buy back most of the medication for $150.




DEA agents tailed the informant to the meet-up spot at a Rural King in Greenwood, according to court documents. Hasenour walked up to the vehicle, told the informant, "I got a notebook for you," and handed the informant a notebook with an envelope tucked inside. Hasenour was then handed the bag of prescription pills in return.




Hasenour didn't make it far before Franklin police swarmed his vehicle and took him into custody. Three crisp $50 bills were found inside the envelope, according to the court documents.




Investigators claim that Hasenour admitted to having a drug problem. He also reportedly told police this wasn't the first time he'd met up with patients to purchase pills from them.




Hasenour reportedly told officers that his addiction began eight months to a year ago and started "like most" with his doctor prescribing him pain meds for a herniated disc in his neck. But once his prescription ran out, Hasenour started searching for other means to get his hands on pain pills.




According to the documents, Hasenour said there were three separate patients he had bought prescriptions from. He even told investigators he had another purchase set up for later in the day.




If convicted of a Level 4 felony, Hasenour can face up to 12 years in prison.




Windrose Health Network posted a statement online in reaction to the arrest. The statement announced that Hasenour has been placed on unpaid leave, with WHN vowing to cooperate fully in the investigation.




"Patient safety and ethical practice are the cornerstones of our mission," said Scott Rollett, chief executive officer of WindRose Health Network. "We are conducting our own internal review, and maintaining uninterrupted, high-quality care through an experienced interim clinical leadership team."





via: https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/court-docs-franklin-doctor-bought-prescription-pain-pills-off-patients/