ROCHESTER, Ill. (WAND) — A man who previously worked as a dentist in Rochester will spend 15 years in prison for stealing drugs from over 99 patients who needed them for surgery.
64-year-old Phillip M. Jensen was sentenced on Friday for stealing fentanyl from patients.
The DOJ said Jensen was taking at least half a vial of fentanyl in every vial in his practice. Then, he would refill the vial after removing the safety caps with saline and glue the caps back on. Jensen also lied in surgical records, claiming he gave his patients full-strength, unadulterated fentanyl to his patients.
"Health care professionals who tamper with patient medications create a risk of harm to patients, and also put at risk the trust that U.S. consumers have in those who provide their medical care," said Ronne Malham, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Criminal Investigations Chicago Field Office. "We will continue to investigate and bring to justice health care professionals who take advantage of their unique medical positions and tamper with patients' medications."
Jensen also billed public and private insurance for the surgeries using duplicate false records. In all, the government said Jensen stole more than 40 grams of fentanyl for personal use through his fraud.
In 2022, Jensen's dental license was suspended after he was indicted. He specialized in oral and maxillary surgery. The government said he started stealing from his patients in December 2019.
U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless heard from several of the 99 identified victims of Jensen's fraud during sentencing. A mother of one of the children gave a statement. She said her child "felt everything" following the surgery. The DOJ also had a statement from a patient who said they woke up during their surgery. The DOJ said once Jensen saw she was awake, he hit them with a dental instrument and finished the surgery anyway, extracting multiple teeth, shaping and smoothing bones in her jaw while awake with no pain management.
During the end of the hearing, Judge Lawless rejected Jensen's argument that he was less culpable than an average drug dealer. Lawless pointed out that Jensen gave out diluted drugs without the consent of his victims. She said he was a person of trust in the community, asking, "If you cannot trust your doctor, who can you trust?"
In February of 2022, a federal grand jury indicted with 20 felony counts but was granted bond. Then, in July of this year, according to the DOJ, a warrant was issued after he stalked and harassed a witness. He has been behind bars since then.
"This case represents the commitment of the Department of Justice, both in the Central District of Illinois and beyond, to protect and defend the public from those that would prey upon them," said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. "People are never as vulnerable as when they place their faith in a health care provider to not only treat their condition but to administer anesthesia and pain medicine during that treatment. Jensen abused that faith and hurt others in the process. Because of this prosecution, Jensen will not be permitted to practice medicine again and will be prevented from hurting members of our community in the future."
Jensen ended up pleading guilty to two counts of drug diversion, two counts of obtaining the fentanyl by fraud, and one count of tampering with products ending in serious bodily injury, as well as two counts of false statement in August of this year relating to health care matters.
Jensen will also have to pay a $200,000 fine, and pay for the court costs of hiring an expert witness. His medial license has also been revoked.
“Medical professionals who violate their oaths to ‘do no harm’ must be held accountable,” said Sheila Lyons, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration – Chicago Division. “The DEA will continue working to keep Illinois families safe from medical professionals who illegally divert opioid painkillers from legitimate medical supplies.”
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