Barbara LangThree men who said they bought and sold pills from a Chattanooga pain clinic took the stand Monday as part of the ongoing trial of Barbara "Aunt Bea" Lang.
Samuel Newcombe told a federal prosecutor that he began buying the pills from clinics he thought were run by Lang and her daughter, Faith Blake, in 2010. A man named John Goss would give Newcombe a ride to the clinic and set up appointments in exchange for half of the pills, he testified.
Newcombe said he made up a back injury and told clinic staff the pain radiated into his hips and legs. He was given Oxycodone in 15 and 30 milligram strengths, and would sell some of the pills on the street for about one dollar per milligram after filling the prescriptions at a local pharmacy.
Lang, 60, was arrested in 2012 and charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, structuring transactions to avoid reporting requirements and concealing a person from arrest. Her jury trial began Nov. 3 and has continued on nonconsecutive days.
Lang's daughter, Faith Blake, and Charles Larmore, a nurse practitioner, pleaded guilty earlier this year in connection with the case and are awaiting sentencing. Dr. Jerome Sherard faces trial in the same case. If convicted, Lang and Sherard each could face up to 20 years in prison.
In November, a pain management specialist testified that an examination of medical records from the clinic revealed pills prescribed at significantly higher doses than would be appropriate. He also testified to the incomplete screenings provided at the clinics, which prosecutors say was a cash-only business designed to provide high reward.
Newcombe, who is awaiting sentencing after he was convicted of involvement in a drug trafficking ring out of Roane County, Ga., backed up that accusation. His pregnant girlfriend also was abusing prescription drugs from the clinic, he said. Newcombe said he was always high when waiting for pills at several of the clinics and often arrived with track marks on his hands from abusing the drugs.
Once a nurse practitioner even caught him using someone else's urine for a urine drug screen administered by the staff.
In that instance, he said, Aunt Bea pulled him into her office and said he was only getting his prescriptions that day because she'd intervened on his behalf. She knew he was a good customer, he said.
"She appeared like she was running the place, but I don't know for 100 percent certain," Newcombe said.
But on cross-examination, Lang's attorney Bryan Hoss pointed out that Newcombe went out of his way to deceive the people running the clinic into giving him prescription pain killers. Newcombe left out his history of drug abuse and lied about the severity of his pain, Hoss said. Newcombe agreed.
"You're keeping those facts from the people who are providing you some sort of medical treatment," Hoss said.
Two others, Richard Goldberg and Christopher Wright, both awaiting sentencing for conspiracy to distribute narcotics in the Roane County ring, testified they went to the clinic regularly to buy pills, which they'd abuse and resell.
On cross examination, attorney Janie Varnell asked Wright if Lang was ever in the room when he faked symptoms in order to get those pills.
She wasn't, he said.
Both men testified they couldn't go hours without high doses of the medication.
"The pills took ahold of me. They dropped me. I couldn't kick 'em," Wright said.
Contact staff writer Claire Wiseman at cwise man@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6347. Follow her on Twitter @claire lwiseman.