News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: November 2, 2006
Contact: Joanna Zoltay
Number: 312-886-2597

Man Sentenced for Illegal Distribution of Hydrocodone and Diazepam

(Chicago) – November 2: Gary G. Olenkiewicz, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration announced today the sentencing of Christopher Schluter in the Northern District of Illinois to five years in federal prison for violation of the Controlled Substances Act. Schluter’s sentencing is the result of his conviction on August 1, 2006 when he pled guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose in violation of Title 21 United States Code Section 846. Specifically, Schluter , who is not a medical doctor, obtained approximately 100,000 Hydrocodone tablets (Vicodin, or Lortab), and 58,000 Diazepam tablets (also known as Valium) from Gregory Mauer, who worked as an office manager at Pioneer Medical Associates in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

“The sentencing today of Mr. Schluter shows that the DEA takes seriously the illegitimate sale of controlled substances,” said Olenkiewicz. “We will continue to investigate these cases and work with our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office to ensure that these cases are prosecuted.”

Mauer illegally used the DEA Registration numbers of two physicians without their knowledge or permission in order to obtain the controlled substances. Mauer then sent the drugs to Utah, where Schluter resided at the time. On June 20, 2006, Mauer was sentenced to one year in federal prison and ordered to pay a $5,000.00 fine after pleading guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute a controlled substance in violation of Title 21, United States Code Section 846.

Schluter’s sentence also included three years supervised release and a $100.00 assessment.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Schneider of the Northern District of Illinois.

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