DOCTOR INVESTIGATION TURNED OVER TO FEDS

The investigation of a Tulsa doctor who is suspected of illegally selling
prescription drugs for cash and exchanging them for sex is now in the hands
of federal authorities.

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officials are collecting and reviewing
evidence against Dr. John T. Forsythe, whose office was searched four
months ago, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs spokesman Mark
Woodward said.

"They're looking at the case to possibly pursue federal charges," he said.
"It's out of our hands now."

DEA spokesman Paul Villaescusa would not comment about the progress of the
case.

"I can't even confirm or deny that we have the investigation," he said.

Authorities initially said after the Aug. 12 search of Forsythe's office
that charges were expected within a few weeks. But Woodward said the
process is taking longer than expected.

Forsythe, who has not been arrested, could not be reached for comment.

His attorney, Curtis Parks, also was unavailable.

The 64-year-old doctor, whose medical and narcotics licenses have been
revoked, has been under investigation for about a year and a half.

During the search at Forsythe's Clinical Radiology and Family Medicine
office at 2733 S. Harvard Ave., authorities seized files, paperwork and a
number of videotapes on which the doctor allegedly had recorded examinations.

Forsythe is suspected of writing fraudulent prescriptions, selling
prescription drugs for cash, selling controlled dangerous drugs to addicts,
filing fraudulent insurance claims, failing to provide medical treatment in
a proper setting, sexual misconduct and stalking a patient.

Undercover agents allegedly bought drugs from Forsythe several times.

Woodward previously said there was enough evidence to arrest Forsythe at
any time but that officials were concentrating on the investigation.

Checked-by: Richard Lake