DOCTOR SENTENCED FOR ILLEGALLY DISPENSING NARCOTICS

NORFOLK, Va. -- A Chesapeake orthopedic surgeon was sentenced
Wednesday in U.S. District Court to seven years and three months in
prison for illegally dispensing narcotics to patients.

Sidney Loxley was also sentenced to three years supervised release
and ordered him to participate in a substance abuse program. Loxley
will also forfeit more than $497,000 in assets to the government.

The 63-year-old entered an Alford plea--not admitting guilt, but
acknowledging there is enough evidence for a conviction--last
December to a single count of conspiracy to dispense narcotics
outside the bounds of legitimate medical practice.

Loxley had faced more than 90 counts, including charges of drug
trafficking that resulted in the deaths of four patients. He could
have faced up to life in prison.