An attorney for a Murray doctor who is charged with issuing prescriptions for narcotic painkillers that led to at least five deaths has asked the court for six more weeks to go through some 40,000 pages of evidence against the doctor.
Warren R. Stack appeared in U.S. District Court Tuesday, along with his two former office assistants, Mindy L. Kramer and Phyllis V. Murray, who also are charged.
An attorney for Stack asked the court for six more weeks to comb through evidence the government could use against Stack.
Stack, Kramer and Murray were indicted last December by a federal grand jury. Stack faces 18 counts, including conspiracy, health care fraud and distribution of a controlled substance leading to death. Stack is blamed for the overdose deaths of five of his patients.
According to the indictment, Stack's office would see as many as 80 patients a day to prescribe painkillers. He would charge between $70 and $200 per visit, while Kramer and Murray would bill health insurance plans for medical exams that never took place. Prosecutors estimate Stack's office pulled in $750,000 in proceeds.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Magistrate Judge Samuel Alba granted the defense more time and set a hearing date for June 4 for a final status conference, when he plans to set the case for trial.
Investigators say Stack, who some called "The Candy Man," left a trail of drug addicts who must rebuild their lives, as well as family members who have lost someone due to overdoses.
If convicted, Stack faces multiple 20-year mandatory sentences, in addition to other 10- to 20-year sentences.
Stack has denied the charges and pleaded not guilty.
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