United States Drug Enforcement Administration

RENO, N.V. - Local physician Dr. Robert Rand pleaded guilty today to involuntary manslaughter of a patient and unlawful distribution of oxycodone to another patient, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 23, 2017, before U.S. District Judge Miranda Du.  At the time of sentencing, Rand faces a maximum of eight years in prison on the manslaughter count and a maximum of 20 years in prison on the drug count.

Robert Gene Rand, 54, a Nevada-licensed physician who operated Rand Family Care in Reno and eight others, including Richard Winston West II, the former manager of the Jones-West Ford dealership, were indicted on May 11, 2016, with federal prescription drug distribution charges.  A superseding indictment was returned against Rand, the last remaining defendant, on June 21, 2017.

According to admissions made in the plea agreement, Rand prescribed an excessive amount of oxycodone to a patient without a legitimate medical purpose and not in the usual course of professional practice that resulted in the patient’s death from oxycodone intoxication.  From the start of treatment, in June 2014, Rand prescribed the patient 180 oxycodone pills per month.  During this time, the patient was hospitalized twice.  In September 2015, Rand prescribed 45 dosages of oxycodone in 30 mg amounts, as well as Xanax, to the patient.  One week later, Rand prescribed an additional 180 dosages of oxycodone in 30 mg amounts to the patient.  Rand acted with gross negligence in prescribing this oxycodone and did so in reckless regard for the patient’s life.

Furthermore, from March 2011 to April 2016, Rand prescribed another patient a total of 23,645 oxycodone 30 mg pills without a legitimate medical purpose. He prescribed a number of opioids to this patient at the same time, including oxycodone in 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg dosages, Percocet, hydrocodone, fentanyl, as well as other substances, such as carisoprodol and alprazolam.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and (CDC), nearly two million Americans abused or were dependent on prescription opioids in 2014.  Overdose deaths from opioids, including prescription opioids and heroin, have nearly quadrupled since 1999. Overdoses involving opioids killed more than 28,000 people in 2014, more than any year on record, and over one-half of those deaths were from prescription opioids. 

This case is being investigated by the DEA, FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Enforcement, Reno Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Carson City Sheriff’s Office, Susanville, California Police Department, Nevada Department of Corrections, Nevada Gaming Control,  Nevada Department of Public Safety,  Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, and the State of Nevada Division of Welfare, Office of Investigations and Recovery.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James E. Keller and Shannon M. Bryant.