KAILUA-KONA — A Kona doctor arrested on suspicion of prescription fraud last year was officially charged by a grand jury, Tuesday.
The indictment against Clifton W. Arrington was filed in the 3rd Circuit Court. It indicates that from January to March last year, the doctor did “intentionally, knowingly or recklessly predate or pre-sign prescriptions to facilitate the obtaining or attempted obtaining of a controlled substance.”
The indictment stems from an investigation that began last March. The Ocean View man was arrested at his office in Honalo Business Center by the state Narcotics Enforcement Division on March 17, 2016, while patients were awaiting appointments. At the time, Arrington was released pending the investigation.
Arrington, who specializes in anti-aging medicine, was licensed and registered by the Department of Public Safety as a person who is able to distribute, dispense or conduct research with respect to a controlled substance.
Since his arrest last year, Arrington has maintained his medical practice and his license is up for renewal on Jan. 31, 2018. Calls to his office Wednesday were not returned by press time.
Toni Schwartz, spokeswoman with the Department of Public Safety, said she could not comment on a pending investigation.
Arrington is also facing several drug-related offenses that occurred on or about March 17 of 2016, according to court documents.
He has been charged with promoting a detrimental drug in the second degree; three counts of promoting a dangerous drug in the second degree; two counts of promoting a harmful drug in the first degree; promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree; two counts of promoting a harmful drug in the third degree; three counts of promoting a harmful drug in the fourth degree; and promoting a harmful drug in the second degree.
After Arrington’s initial arrest, Lee Ann Teshima, executive officer for the Board of Pharmacy, said pharmacies stopped filling his prescriptions. The board was flooded with complaints from patients.
Unless a prescriber is convicted, Teshima said, there is no reason why a pharmacy can’t fill a doctor’s prescription, provided it’s a valid prescription and there are no red flags.
Pharmacies did start filling Arrington’s prescriptions again after the initial arrest. Teshima said she hasn’t had any recent calls from patients complaining about not being able to obtain their prescription.
Teshima added that she wasn’t sure how the indictment would affect his state narcotics registration.
The indictment indicates Arrington was found with the following:
• Possession of one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances of one ounce or more containing marijuana
• Possession of 25 or more capsules, tablets, ampules, dosage units or syrettes that contained amphetamine
• Possession of 25 or more capsules, tablets, ampules, dosage units or syrettes that contained Oxycotin/acetaminophen
• Possession of 25 or more capsules, tablets, ampules, dosage units or syrettes containing Hydrocodone/acetaminophen
• Possession of 100 or more capsules, tablets or dosage units of tramadol
• Possession of morphine
• Possession of 25 or more capsules, tablets or dosage units containing testosterone cypionate
• Possession of triazolam
• Possession of nandrolone decanote
• Possession of 25 or more capsules, tablets or dosage units containing Lorazepam
• Possession of codeine with promethazine
• Possession of 100 or more capsules, tablets or dosage units containing Diazpam
• Possession of 50 or more capsules, tablets or dosage units containing butalbital/acetaminophen/caffeine