Chapmanville, WV — Brian McDevitt, a 61-year-old doctor from Chapmanville, was convicted by a federal jury on charges related to the illegal distribution of controlled substances, concluding a four-day trial. McDevitt, who operated as a sole provider at the Chapmanville Medical Clinic, now faces the loss of his medical license and forfeiture of his clinic.
During the trial, it was revealed that McDevitt had prescribed medications such as hydrocodone and alprazolam on dates including May 17 and March 29 of the years 2022 and 2024, respectively. These prescriptions were deemed to have been issued outside the norms of professional health practices and without genuine medical necessity.
The impending sentencing for McDevitt is set for May 22, 2025, where he faces the possibility of up to 50 years in prison. This legal battle marks another blemish on McDevitt’s already tarnished record. More than a decade ago, on January 20, 2010, he admitted guilt in a related crime that involved conspiracy to misuse a federal registration number and the illegal handling of proceeds from such activities. Following his guilty plea, McDevitt received a prison sentence of one year and one day, coupled with a three-year supervised release and a hefty $60,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Will Thompson expressed dismay over McDevitt’s continued criminal activities, emphasizing that the former doctor appears not to have reformed despite previous convictions. Thompson accused McDevitt of exploiting from vulnerable individuals in West Virginia for his own profit.
The investigative backdrop to McDevitt’s apprehension highlighted a collaborative effort involving the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Route 119 Drug Task Force. The task force synergized resources from several counties including Mingo, Logan, and Boone, alongside the West Virginia State Police.
Special Agent Jim Scott from the DEA’s Louisville Division reprimanded McDevitt’s actions, clarifying the severe implications of a doctor betraying his oath by misusing the power to prescribe controlled substances. Scott stressed that such actions erode public trust and equate such practitioners to drug dealers, deserving severe judicial consequences.
United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston oversaw the proceedings, with the prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorneys Owen Reynolds and Andrew J. Tessman working diligently to present the detailed case against McDevitt. This case serves as a stern reminder of the justice system’s unyielding stance on professionals who abuse their positions of trust to engage in unlawful activities.
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