United States Drug Enforcement Administration

DETROIT - McKesson (McKesson), one of the nation’s largest distributors of pharmaceutical drugs, agreed to pay a record $150 million civil penalty for alleged violations of the Controlled Substances (CSA). Special Agent-in-Charge Timothy J. Plancon of the DEA Detroit Field Division was joined in the announcement today by United State Attorney Barbara L. McQuade.  

DEA’s Plancon said, “The United States is in the midst of an opiate epidemic which is being fueled by the misuse of opiate painkillers. This historic settlement demonstrates DEA’s commitment to the public health and safety by holding the McKesson Corporation accountable for their actions. It doesn’t matter if the violator is a multi-billion dollar corporation, or an individual selling smaller amounts of drugs on the street, DEA is committed to fighting this epidemic from all angles.”

“In light of the growing epidemic of opioid addiction and overdose deaths, drug companies have a duty to detect suspicious orders for prescription pills that could end up in the wrong hands,” McQuade said. “Drug companies cannot profit from addiction.”

The nationwide settlement requires McKesson to suspend sales of controlled substances from distribution centers in Colorado, Ohio, Michigan and Florida for multiple years. The staged suspensions are among the most severe sanctions ever agreed to by a DEA registered distributor. The settlement also imposes new and enhanced compliance obligations on McKesson’s distribution system.

In 2008, McKesson agreed to a $13.25 million civil penalty and administrative agreement for similar violations. In this case, the government alleged again that McKesson failed to design and implement an effective system to detect and report “suspicious orders” for controlled substances distributed to its independent and small chain pharmacy customers- i.e. orders that are unusual in their frequency, size, or other patterns. From 2008 until 2013, McKesson supplied various U.S. pharmacies an increasing amount of oxycodone and hydrocodone pills, frequently misused products that are part of the current opioid epidemic.

The government’s investigation developed evidence that even after designing a compliance program after the 2008 settlement, McKesson did not fully implement or adhere to its own program. In Colorado, for example, McKesson processed more than 1.6 million orders for controlled substances from June 2008 through May 2013, but reported just 16 orders as suspicious, all connected to one instance related to a recently terminated customer. 

In addition to the monetary penalties and suspensions, the government and McKesson agreed to enhanced compliance terms for the next five years. Among other things, McKesson has agreed to specific, rigorous staffing and organizational improvements; periodic auditing; and stipulated financial penalties for failing to adhere to the compliance terms. Critically, the settlement will require McKesson to engage an independent monitor to assess compliance - the first independent monitor of its kind in a CSA civil penalty settlement.

This was a multi-district investigation that involved the following DEA Field Divisions:  Boston Field Division, Chicago Field Division, Denver Field Division, Detroit Field Division, Miami Field Division, Newark Field Division, San Francisco Field Division, St. Louis Field Division, and Washington District Office. The following U.S. Attorney’s Offices participated in the case: Central District of California, Eastern District of California, District of Colorado, Middle District of Florida, Eastern District of Kentucky, Northern District of Illinois, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, District of Nebraska, District of New Jersey, Northern District of West Virginia, and Western District of Wisconsin.

U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Colorado and the Northern District of West Virginia, along with DEA Office of Chief Counsel and Diversion Control Division, led the civil settlement negotiations. DEA’s Denver, Detroit and Miami Field Divisions, and its Washington Division Office led the administrative and civil investigation. The Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug (NDDS) also coordinated and assisted in negotiating certain portions of the settlement. Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda (Colorado) and Alan (NDWV) represented the United States in the civil penalty investigations and negotiations.  Associate Chief Counsel Lee Reeves and Senior Attorneys Dedra Curteman, Dana Hill and Krista Tongring represented DEA in the investigations and negotiations. Trial Attorneys Harry Matz and Kirtland Marsh were involved for NDDS.