The brother of a doctor in the notorious Biloxi pill mill case has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and will face sentencing in May, reports the Biloxi-Gulfport Sun Herald here.
Richard Trieu is the brother of Dr. Thomas Trieu, considered by most observers to be the principal defendant in the case. The two were arrested together with Dr. Trieu’s wife Dr. Victoria Van, and Nick Tran the pharmacist next door. They are accused of acting like drug suppliers, writing and filling prescriptions to controlled substances to patients who just ask and pay for them.
In exclusive interviews with the Bolsavik previously published here, Dr. Van’s family vehemently proclaim her innocence as well as her husband’s. Excerpts from the transcript of the defendants’ bail hearing indicate that investigators did not seek expert medical opinions on whether the precriptions – accused of being inappropriate – are or are not appropriate.
Originally, Richard Trieu had been charged with 21 felony counts; one conspiracy count and 20 counts for each of the 20 prescriptions at issue in the case — 18 prescriptions from Thomas Trieu and two from Victoria Van. See the original indictment document here (it may have been amended since).
Earlier this week, Richard Trieu, who’s also the office manager at his brother’s clinic, pleaded guilty to the crime of “misprision of felony.”
Almost all states don’t have the crime of misprision of felony. It is defined as the failure to report a felony that one witnesses.
Most people (and at least one U.S. Supreme Court case) would agree that it is too harsh to criminalize the failure to report a crime: We witness dozens of potential crimes every day, from speeding cars, to foreign-exchange students working for cash, to restaurant owners forcing waitresses to share tip money with the cooks, etc. Most of us never report any of it. A law that makes a criminal out of practically everyone is a bad law.
Still, it is a federal crime on the books, although hardly ever enforced. And, as we all know, if the government has it the government will use it. (Advocates of small government may want to remember that.)
As a plea bargaining tool, “misprision of felony” is interesting. It means that Richard Trieu must agree to a set of facts that include showings that “this felony was being committed and I witnessed it” and
“that felony was being committed and I witnessed it” and “I did not report any of them.”
The statement of facts will bind Richard Trieu. Later, when he’s called as a witness in the trial of his brother and sister-in-law (pictured right with their children), he will not be able to testify to the contrary. I.e. he will have to repeat that “This felony was committed” and “that felony was committed.”
It is, therefore, a powerful bargaining chip to use with a smaller fish while building the case against the alleged bigger fish – albeit with obviously tainted and self-serving testimony.
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Mr. Bolsavik,
Will these people serve jail time if they convicted? Or the main thrust of the case is to close down their business? If guilty as charged in absolute (not legal) terms, I would rather have my business taken away because those are two beautiful children I would not want to depart for a single second. Just a shame another family may be ruined.
Signs of the time:
1. A San Diego man posted his kidney for sale yesterday on Craigslist for $100k. The post was removed because posts that contain “blood, bodily fluids or body parts” are banned on the site.
2. A New Orleans sign two gold teeth for $100.00.
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/
3. Family suicide : A medical technician, had been fired from jobs at Kaiser-Permanente Medical Center in West Los Angeles and were deep in debt, murdered his wife and 5 children, then killed himself.
4. A large outreach event in Phoenix for homeless veterans is in need of new clothing donations to meet the overwhelming turnout.
Record numbers of homeless veterans have shown up to the Veterans Memorial Coliseum this weekend for Arizona Stand Down 2009.http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2009/02/07/20090207vets-ON.html
5. UC admission reduction as a result of California budget crisis, fewer high school graduates can get into college. Fees and tuition are increasing. Grants and scholarships are being reduced.
Country First,
Regarding item #3, the family suicide, the dude and his wife got fired because they forged their manager’s signature to obtain subsidy for their children. They both were making upwards of $40/hr, but they were greedy, and the government worker found out about it and reported it to the hospital.
The hombre went loco and blew his family and himself away. No one’s fault but his own!
I agree !
The story about the murder/suicide is just absolutely unreal ! ! !
On a lighter note, here is the link to gold teeth story, the picture is hilarious :
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nSTO-vZpSgc/SY017WkwpSI/AAAAAAAAFj0/cPtilV6sh_8/s1600-h/gold+teeth.png
Country First,
Why did you have to post the sale of my gold teeth? It’s my business, not the world. Hahaha.
Wow! what an idea ! What a concept ! Beautiful .. Amazing
For god sake, Let dr. thomas trieu and is wife go. Most doctors in this country only takes care of people with insurance. Dr. Trieu open his heart to rich or poor. Unfortunately there are criminals that receive his care, get well and betray him maybe for money. This is all about MONEY!!! Somebody wants some of dr. trieu hard worked money and set up a plan for all this. This is alot like the communist strategy. Rob people’s sweat money with so call “documents.” These doctors are innocent, they just have soft hearts and feelings. This kind of game me disappointed in the american law. Two doctors sacrifice 10 years of education to commit this crime? So insane! Somebody is jealous out there, because they ARE just plat out dumb. Then what , their two son’s life will be . Look in your HEARTS PLEASE!