ROANOKE DOCTOR REMAINS JAILED

Bond Is $200,000 On Drug Charges

ROANOKE - A Roanoke pain specialist accused of illegally prescribing
OxyContin and other prescription drugs remained in custody at the city
jail after a federal magistrate judge set the doctor's bond Saturday
at $200,000.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Glen E. Conrad also prohibited Dr. Cecil Byron
Knox III and his office manager, registered nurse Beverly Gale Boone,
from writing any more prescriptions or having further contact with
patients except to refer them to new doctors.

Conrad's decision essentially shut down Knox's practice, Southwest
Virginia Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The decision leaves the
fate of Knox's patients in question, said his attorney,
Deborah-Caldwell-Bono. She said Knox cares for 800 people, many of
whom suffer from chronic pain.

Knox, in his only comments during the hearing, said he was concerned
about the well-being of his patients. "To shovel them off to someone I
pick is not always going to be appropriate," Knox said.

Conrad set the high bond for Knox and a $50,000 bond for Boone. He
also gave them seven to 10 days to arrange for patients to be referred
to other doctors.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rusty Fitzgerald argued that Knox and Boone
should stay in jail because of the severity of the charges.

Knox, 52, Boone, 43, and Tiffany T. Durham, 28, an emergency medical
technician who worked on the practice's hot line for dispensing
prescriptions, were charged Friday with conspiracy to distribute the
powerful painkiller OxyContin for no legitimate medical purpose. They
were also each charged with 10 counts of illegally distributing the
same medications. Knox and Boone live in Roanoke; Durham is from Blue
Ridge.

Knox, Boone, and Durham have also been charged with conspiracy to
commit health care fraud, fraud against the United States, obstruction
of a health care investigation, and receiving kickbacks for referring
patients.

Two other defendants who operated out of the same building as
Southwest Virginia Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation also were charged.

Kathleen G. O'Gee, 53, of Pulaski, and Willard Newbill James Jr., 56,
of Roanoke, face health care fraud charges. Prosecutors said James
referred patients to Knox. O'Gee, James and Durham were released on
bond.

If convicted, Knox and Boone could face up to life in prison and a
fine of more than $27 million. Durham could face life in prison and a
fine of $26.5 million, while James and O'Gee could face a maximum
prison term of 15 years and a fine of $500,000.

The defendants' arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 21.