Doctor Convicted of Improper Prescribing of Adderall

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - A West Virginia doctor was found guilty today by a jury for the unlawful distribution of controlled substances and for destroying evidence of his crimes.

David Elwood Hess, 60, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, was convicted of four counts of improper prescribing and one count of destroying records in a federal investigation. The jury found that Hess wrote prescriptions for Adderall to his patients without a legitimate medical purpose and beyond the bounds of professional practice. The jury also found that Hess remotely wiped his iPhone after it had been seized by law enforcement.

"Dr. Hess was reckless in his prescribing and put himself and his sexual desire ahead of the wellbeing of his patients," said United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld. "His sexual misconduct corrupted his decision-making and put his patients at great risk. Thanks to the jury's verdict and the excellent work of investigators and prosecutors, Dr. Hess will be held accountable for his crimes."

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Cogar and Eleanor Hurney prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated.

Hess will be sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Kleeh once a pre-sentence investigation report has been completed.

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