Louisville Dentist Charged With Unlawfully Dispensing Controlled Substances

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A Louisville Dentist who prescribed controlled substances after being suspended by the Kentucky Board of Dentistry (KBD) has been charged by federal criminal complaint, announced Acting United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett. Paul William Yaggie, DMD, 48, of Louisville, Kentucky has been charged with prescribing hydrocodone and oxycodone in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841.   

According to the criminal complaint, on September 18, 2020, the KBD issued a Notice of Immediate, Temporary Suspension (ITS), suspending Yaggie’s dental license and ordering him not practice dentistry.  The ITS was personally served to Yaggie on September 21, 2020.  Following the ITS, Yaggie continued to see patients and write controlled substance prescriptions.  Yaggie prescribed over 625 hydrocodone pills and over 175 oxycodone pills while suspended.  On January 6, 2021, Yaggie was evicted from his dental office where he abandoned his patient files.  On February 15, 2021, Yaggie met a patient in the parking lot adjacent to his former dental office.  Yaggie prescribed the patient hydrocodone and penicillin, charging the patient $200 for the prescriptions and promised dental work.  Yaggie failed to complete the dental work, did not return the money, and the pharmacy refused to fill the prescriptions.

The charge carries a potential penalty of no more than 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years of supervised release.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Ansari.  The case is being investigated by the Kentucky State Police (KSP), Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General (KY CHFS-OIG), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Drug Diversion Section, Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) and the Shively Police Department (SPD).

A federal complaint is a written statement of the essential facts of the offense charged and must be made under oath before a United States Magistrate Judge.  The charge set forth in a complaint is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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