United States v. Douglas Bouchey
N/AOUTCOME: Won
United States v. Douglas Bouchey – in one of the biggest cases in the history of the federal district court in Eastern Iowa, and ground breaking in terms of internet crime, Mr. Scheetz represented Doug ... Bouchey who was charged with illegally dispensing prescription medications. Mr. Bouchey worked as a pharmacist in Dubuque, Iowa, where he lived with his wife and two daughters. Bouchey had been hired by a website pharmacy located in Miami, Florida, to fill prescriptions that had been purchased online. In one of the first cases of its kind in the nation, Bouchey, several doctors, and the owners of the pharmacy website were charged in federal district court with conspiracy to illegally distribute controlled substances, and money laundering. Bouchey, who had never before been arrested, faced up to 40 years in prison. Mr. Scheetz was hired by Doug Bouchey. Mr. Scheetz argued that the internet pharmacy laws were unclear; that Bouchey did not have notice that what he was doing was illegal. Bouchey’s co-defendants received long prison sentences. Mr. Scheetz was successful in persuading the United States Attorney’s office to dismiss the felony charges. Bouchey pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and served no time in jail. Most importantly to Mr. Bouchey, Mr. Scheetz successfully negotiated with the DEA to allow Bouchey to keep his federal license to remain a pharmacist. Bouchey continues to be a pharmacist today.
