U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced Thursday, July 27, that a federal jury has found Scott Andrew Hollington, 58, St. Augustine, guilty of 14 counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances not for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice, and five counts of obstructing justice.
Hollington faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each of the drug trafficking offenses, and up to 10 years for the obstruction charges. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. Hollington was charged in a superseding indictment on March 23, 2023.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) first learned of Hollington after receiving a tip from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office that Hollington was exchanging narcotic prescriptions for sexual favors. The DEA subsequently deployed five undercover agents to Hollington’s addiction clinic, from February 2022 to July 2022, with the purpose of obtaining prescriptions without a legitimate medical need. Through their investigation, the agents managed to secure a total of 17 prescriptions of schedule II, III and IV controlled substances, including amphetamines (Adderall), benzodiazepines (Valium and Xanax), and buprenorphine (Suboxone), during the five visits, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida.
Throughout the trial, the evidence showed that Hollington asked the agents about their drug preferences, offered prescriptions without proper medical justification, and admitted that he did not care about urine drug screening results. Physical examinations, vital checks and proper documentation were omitted during most medical encounters with the undercover agents, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Further evidence revealed that Hollington altered medical notes in each of the undercover agents’ medical files following his indictment, leading to the obstruction convictions, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Testimony during the trial included statements from three female victims who revealed that Hollington exchanged, coerced or solicited sexual favors for prescriptions.
This case was jointly investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Ormond Beach Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and State Attorney’s Office, 7th Judicial Circuit.
It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kirwinn Mike and Ashley Washington. The forfeiture of assets is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mai Tran.
