Knoxville doc gets 13 years for oxycontin drug ring

A federal judge today ordered a Knoxville doctor to prison for 13 years for heading up an oxycontin drug ring.

U.S. District Judge Tom Varlan gave Dr. Sanford Kent Myers, 54, a break for his work as an informant but deemed him in need of serious punishment. Myers was charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycontin.

"This defendant wrote during this conspiracy prescriptions for a total of 30,000 oxycontin pills," Varlan said.

Myers admitted at a hearing earlier this year that he wrote prescriptions that co-defendant J. Christopher Ridenour then doled out to people who were paid $250 to get them filled.

Ridenour has admitted that he then sold the pills and paid Myers with cash and cocaine.

Defense attorneys James A.H. Bell and Richard Holcomb told Varlan that Myers had accepted Christ since his arrest and now is a changed man. They also cited his cooperation with authorities.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Weddle countered that Myers only began cooperating after Ridenour agreed to serve as a snitch against the doctor.