Doctor And Her Granddaughter Sentenced To Prison For Unlawful Distribution Of Opioids

Tampa, FL - U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber today sentenced Janet Pettyjohn (78, Spring Hill) to three years in federal prison and Shelly Gallagher (34, Brooksville) to six years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute drugs. As part of Pettyjohn's sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $34,132, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. Pettyjohn and Gallagher entered guilty pleas in May 2024.

According to court documents, Pettyjohn was an osteopathic physician licensed to practice medicine in the State of Florida with a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration number to prescribe controlled substances. In July 2020, Florida's Board of Osteopathic Medicine (BOM) restricted Pettyjohn from prescribing opioids due to complaints about the manner in which she prescribed controlled substances. After the BOM's Final Order and the prescribing restriction took effect, Pettyjohn continued to prescribe opioids in violation of the Final Order. The BOM later lifted the prescribing restriction in March 2021.

Gallagher is Pettyjohn's granddaughter and did not hold a medical license. Between March 2021 and February 2023, Gallagher sponsored patients at Pettyjohn's clinic and ordered controlled substances for herself and others from Pettyjohn. Despite obvious signs of drug abuse and diversion, Pettyjohn knowingly and intentionally prescribed the controlled substances for Gallagher and others for no legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice, which Gallagher and others abused and diverted.

A search of Pettyjohn's residence in February 2024 revealed $34,132 in U.S. currency in a safe, which were proceeds of her illegal prescribing. Pettyjohn relinquished her medical license and DEA registration in May 2024.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration - Tampa District Office, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, and by the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit at the United States Attorney's Office, which focuses on opioid-related fraud and abuse by medical and health care professionals who have contributed to the prescription opioid epidemic. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Pizzo.