DENVER (LAWFUEL) – Peter W.S. Grigg, age 48, of Colorado Springs, was arrested by Special Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), after a federal grand jury in Denver returned an eight count indictment charging him with illegally distributing drugs, United States Attorney Troy Eid and DEA Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Sweetin announced today. Grigg appeared this afternoon before a U.S. Magistrate Judge for an initial appearance, where he was advised of the charges pending against him. The government has requested that Grigg be detained. He is scheduled to have a detention and arraignment hearing on Wednesday, January 14th, 2009 at 10:30 am.
According to the indictment, which was sealed pending the arrest of the defendant, from October through December of 2008, Grigg, a licensed Colorado Springs physician, illegally distributed over 15,800 milligrams of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance. The indictment alleges that Grigg distributed the drugs outside the scope of his professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. The indictment also alleges that Grigg illegally dispensed over 1600 micrograms of Fentanyl, a powerful pain killer, as well as MDMA, commonly known as Ecstasy.
“Doctors have a responsibility to distribute drugs for medical purposes,” said U.S. Attorney Troy Eid. “When they ignore their responsibility, they face criminal charges and a prison term.”
“As law enforcement officials, it would be a travesty to allow this violation of the public trust to continue,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Sweetin.
If convicted, Grigg faces not more than 5 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine, for each of the eight counts contained in the indictment.
This case was investigated by the Agents and Diversion Investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Grigg is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Phillips.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in a court of law.
