DOCTOR CHARGED IN DRUG CASE

Nurse, EMT Charged In OxyContin Case

Dr. Cecil Byron Knox, 52, was taken into custody Friday at his practice on
Second Street Southwest.

A federal grand jury on Friday indicted a Roanoke physician, one of his
nurses and an emergency medical technician who worked at his practice on
charges that they dispensed drugs that could have resulted in the death or
serious injury of 10 patients.

Federal agents and Roanoke police officers descended on the office of Dr.
Cecil Byron Knox on Friday afternoon at his practice on Second Street
Southwest.

Knox, 52, was arrested, along with one of his nurses, Beverly Gale Boone,
and Tiffany T. Durham, an emergency medical technician who also doled out
prescription refills, according to the indictment. All three were taken
into federal custody and are making initial appearances in federal court today.

U.S. Attorney John Brownlee did not return calls for comment.

Tony Anderson, who is representing Knox with Deborah Caldwell-Bono,
maintained that his client was innocent.

"We categorically deny that there have been any such actions on behalf of
Dr. Knox," Anderson said, referring to the 32-count indictment.

Knox is the latest doctor to be charged with illegally prescribing
OxyContin, a potent painkiller that has been blamed for overdoses and
criminal activity throughout the country. Five doctors in Southwest
Virginia have been sentenced on similar charges, and 79 doctors were
indicted on similar charges last year. Knox has also spoken at seminars
financed by Purdue Pharma, the Connecticut company that manufactures OxyContin.

The case reiterates the debate over a drug that some say is a legitimate
pain killer but others describe as "hillbilly heroin" - and what role
doctors may have played in helping further the problem.

Although the indictment did not go into details about the alleged patient
deaths or bodily injuries, an affidavit filed in federal court in June
described a patient of Knox's being found dead of an overdose in a hotel
room in 1999. Prescriptions written by Knox were found at the scene,
according to the affidavit.

Knox, Boone and Durham were also charged with conspiring to illegally
distribute an assortment of prescription drugs in addition to OxyContin,
including methadone; oxycodone, the active ingredient in OxyContin; and
other painkillers. The trio was also charged with 15 counts of distributing
narcotics for no legitimate medical purpose. Boone, 43, is from Roanoke,
and Durham, 28, is from Blue Ridge.

Federal authorities also allege that Knox, Boone and Durham conspired to
commit health care fraud, obstructed a criminal health care investigation,
and received kickbacks for patient referrals. Knox's practice, Southwest
Virginia Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, has also been charged as
part of the indictment.

Kathleen G. O'Gee, 53, of Pulaski and Willard Newbill James Jr., 56, of
Roanoke, who worked at Knox's office, were also charged with health care
fraud in the indictment. Federal authorities alleged that O'Gee, who
practiced alternative medicine, did not have a legitimate medical practice,
yet received federal health care reimbursements for her work. And James, a
counselor, paid kickbacks of 30 percent from health care reimbursements to
Knox and Boone for patient referrals, the indictment alleges.

Knox and Boone each face life in prison and a fine of more than $27
million. Durham also faces life in prison and a fine of $26.5 million.
Southwest Virginia Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation could also have to
pay $1.5 million. If any of the defendants are convicted of causing death
or serious bodily injury by illegally prescribing drugs, each would face a
mandatory prison term of 20 years.

Federal authorities are also seeking the forfeiture of $1 million; land in
Roanoke County, Roanoke and Idaho; the medical practice; and several bank
accounts.

James and O'Gee each face a maximum prison term of 15 years and a fine of
$500,000.

Anderson described Knox as a pain-management specialist who has lectured
all over the world on the subject.

In the past, Knox has spoken at pain-management seminars financed by Purdue
Pharma.