TULSA – Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter has charged Dr. James Fleckenstein with obtaining possession of opioid pain medication by fraud, after an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control (OBNDD) and Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office.
According to court documents, an investigation into Fleckenstein’s prescribing practices began in December 2016 by the OBNDD after a pharmacist became concerned with the amount of opioid medication being prescribed to a patient, who is Fleckenstein’s wife.
Court documents say during the investigation, Fleckenstein admitted to investigators he was writing the majority of the prescriptions for his wife and his wife’s friend, who would fill the prescriptions and give the medication to him for his personal use.
Attorney General Hunter applauded the efforts of the agents who investigated the case. He said his office remains dedicated to prosecuting unethical medical practitioners who violate the law.
“Dr. Fleckenstein’s actions will not be tolerated in the state,” Attorney General Hunter said. “I appreciate both the OBNDD and the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office for working with my office to ensure he will be held accountable. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect Oklahomans.”
If convicted, he faces prison time and fines.
All defendants are innocent until proven guilty.
Read the court filing, here.
Read the probable cause affidavit, here.