BOISE, Idaho — This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press.
A Boise nurse practitioner has been sentenced to prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Angela Kathryn Hughes, 50, was ordered to serve four years in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Thursday. Hughes and her co-conspirator, 39-year-old Boise woman Sydney Neal, issued illegitimate prescriptions for narcotics oxycodone, oxycodone acetaminophen, and hydrocodone acetaminophen between January 2022 and March 2023, the office said in its release.
Additionally, in exchange for prescriptions, Hughes received cash, a portion of the pills from the prescriptions, and other controlled substances such as methamphetamine, the release said.
Hughes, Neal and others conspired "to knowingly and intentionally distribute Schedule II controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose," the release said. "The unlawful prescriptions Hughes issued as part of the conspiracy totaled approximately 4,358 pills of oxycodone acetaminophen, 2,854 pills of oxycodone, and 2,625 pills of hydrocodone acetaminophen."
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Hughes to be placed on supervised release for three years following her release from prison.
Prior to Hughes' sentencing, Neal was ordered to five years of probation for her role in the crimes. "Neal received cash from selling controlled substances and provided the proceeds to Hughes. In exchange, Neal continued to receive and distribute controlled substances," the release said.
“Medical providers are supposed to take care of their patients and their community. The defendant in this case did the opposite, adding to the dangerous problem of prescription drug abuse,” said U.S. Attorney for Idaho Josh Hurwit said in the release. “I am grateful for the team of prosecutors and investigators that found out what was happening and put a stop to it.”
Hurwit commended the work of the Boise Police Department, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, which led to the charges.
This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press, read more on IdahoPress.com.