Physician sentenced for unlawful buprenorphine prescribing - Summary - MDSpire
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Physician sentenced for unlawful buprenorphine prescribing

Filed documents show staff issued more than 25,000 buprenorphine prescriptions in the physician’s name.

  • By

  • Kathryn Wighton

  • August 25, 2026

  • 2 min

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Objective:

To report on the sentencing of a physician for unlawful prescribing practices involving buprenorphine.

Approach:
  • Case Overview: Henry Ronald Emery, Jr., a North Carolina physician, was sentenced for allowing his DEA registration to be used for illegal buprenorphine prescriptions.
  • Operational Details: Emery worked with Church Ekklasia Sozo, which provided opioid addiction treatment via telemedicine, requiring patients to complete an online questionnaire.
  • Prescription Practices: Emery permitted administrative staff to use his DEA number to issue over 25,000 buprenorphine prescriptions without personal patient interaction.
Key Findings:
  • Emery received $452,830 from the organization during the conspiracy.
  • He was sentenced to 6 months in prison and 1 year of supervised release.
  • A forfeiture money judgment for $452,830 was ordered by the judge.
Interpretation:

The case highlights the risks associated with telemedicine practices in substance use disorder treatment.

Conclusion:

The sentencing reflects legal accountability for improper prescribing practices in the medical field.

Sources:

Original Source(s)

Physician sentenced for unlawful buprenorphine prescribing

  • by Kathryn Wighton

  • August 25, 2026

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