A Las Vegas physician was handed a 27-month prison sentence for illegally dispensing opioid painkillers, according to a report by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Dr. William Alvear, age 69, is set to serve nearly two and a half years behind bars, with an additional three years of supervised release, alongside a financial penalty of $75,000 after being found guilty of peddling prescriptions for profit.
"By prescribing medically unnecessary prescription medications in exchange for cash payments, the defendant put vulnerable patients at risk," stated Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans of the FBI Las Vegas Division. The case was brought to light following an intensive investigation spearheaded by the FBI, in collaboration with state and local law enforcement agencies. Alvear's actions involved the unlawful distribution of Hydrocodone, a powerful opioid and Schedule II controlled substance known for its high potential for abuse and addiction risks. The court documents also highlighted Alvear's misconduct with Alprazolam, more commonly recognized as Xanax, a Schedule IV controlled substance that, too, can be addictive, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In November of 2023, the jury at Alvear's trial held over six days reached a verdict, convicting him on three counts of distributing a Schedule II controlled substance and five counts of distributing or dispensing a Schedule IV substance according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada announced the sentencing in tandem with the FBI's Special Agent in Charge Evans. Assisting in the prosecution were Assistant United States Attorneys for the District of Nevada. Evans emphasizes the Bureau's resolve "The FBI will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to find and investigate practitioners in the medical community who target and victimize vulnerable populations," according to U.S. Attorney's Office.
