United States Drug Enforcement Administration

DENVER - Dr. John Alan Littleford, and three others were indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver last week on charges related to the illegal distribution of prescription medication and money laundering, DEA Special Agent in Charge Barbra Roach, U.S. Attorney John Walsh and IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Stephen Boyd announced today.  Littleford had a medical practice in Parker, and was arrested today in Kansas.  As alleged in the indictment at least two patients who received drugs from Littleford died as a result.  Dianna L Smithling was arrested in Michigan. Stanley G. Callas and Scott Alan Eskanos were arrested this morning in Douglas County, Colorado. 

According to the indictment, Dr. John Alan Littleford, DO, 70, currently of Manhattan, Kansas, owned and operated the Pain & Injury Clinic which was located in Parker, Colorado. Dianna L. Smithling, 39, currently of Grand Blanc, Michigan was the office manager at the Pain & Injury Clinic from approximately July 2011 to approximately November 2012.  (“Stan”) G. Callas, 63, of Parker, Colorado and Scott Alan Eskanos, 61, of Parker, Colorado are the co-owners of Crown Point Pharmacy, located in Parker, Colorado, and Sky Ridge Pharmacy, located in Lone Tree, Colorado.

According to court records, beginning in April, 2010, and continuing to November, 2012, defendants Littleford, Smithling, Callas, and Eskanos, and others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, knowingly conspired and agreed to work interdependently to dispense and distribute, or facilitate the dispensing and distribution of controlled substances to patients at times and in circumstances outside the usual course of professional medical practice, and for other than legitimate medical purpose.

More specifically, the defendants are alleged to have dispensed and distributed controlled substances to individuals in quantities and dosages that would enable the individuals to abuse, misuse, and develop or maintain dependencies or addictions to controlled substances. Littleford routinely wrote new prescriptions for opioids when the individuals for whom he was writing the prescriptions should have still had opioids left from a prior prescription, if they had been taking the opioids according to Littleford’s dosing instructions. Callas and Eskanos knowingly filled these “early refill” prescriptions written by Littleford. The indictment specifically alleges unlawful distribution of controlled substances to seven individuals who presented as patients at the Pain & Injury Clinic and filled their prescriptions at Crown Point Pharmacy, Sky Ridge Pharmacy, or both. The indictment alleges that Littleford’s unlawful distribution of Oxycodone to two of the individuals resulted in their respective deaths. Finally, the indictment alleges the defendants committed money laundering with the intent to promote the carrying on of their unlawful distribution of controlled substances.
      
Littleford is charged with one count conspiracy to distribute or dispense a schedule II controlled (punishable up to 20 years); two counts distribution of a schedule II controlled substance from which death (punishable by not less than 20 years to life per count); 21 counts of distribution or dispensing of a controlled substance and aiding and abetting the (punishable up to 20 years per count); one count of conspiracy to commit money (punishable up to 20 years); and four counts of money laundering using illegal proceeds to promote illegal (punishable up to 20 years per count).  Littleford’s co-defendants face a variety of the charges listed above.

“The prescription drug problem in Colorado and the U.S., specifically opioid drug abuse, is at epidemic proportions”, stated Special Agent in Charge Barbra Roach of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.  “Those in special positions of trust and responsibility in our community, such as our medical professionals, must be held accountable when they cross the line into criminal behavior for their own profit.”     

“As the allegations in this indictment set forth, abuse of prescription authority for pain-killing opioid medicines can lead to suffering and death,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh.  “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with DEA, IRS and our state and local partners to address the epidemic of prescription drug diversion and abuse that is having such a terrible impact on Coloradans.”

“Prescription drug abuse is a serious problem and IRS CI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners.  We use our financial expertise to follow the money and seize assets from their ill-gotten gains,” said Stephen Boyd, Special Agent in Charge for IRS Criminal Investigation, Denver Field Office.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the IRS Criminal Investigations.

The defendants are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly.

The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.