Imprisoned Drug-Diluting KC Pharmacist Set for Halfway House Transfer
KANSAS CITY, Mo
– A former Kansas City-area pharmacist, Robert Courtney, sentenced to a prison term for dilution of tens of thousands of prescriptions for seriously ill patients, is slated to be transferred to a halfway house this summer. Information to this effect was relayed by an attorney for the victims on Tuesday.
Victims Demand Revisiting of Charges
Mike Ketchmark, the attorney whose office managed more than 275 wrongful death lawsuits connected to Courtney, has expressed the victims’ outrage and their demand for fresh charges against the convicted pharmacist. Sources confirmed that many victims, upon receiving emails from the Department of Justice regarding Courtney’s scheduled transfer, promptly reached out to Ketchmark airing their grievances. An estimated 100 calls have reportedly been made to the attorney from the victims since the emails started circulating.
“I have victims in their 80s… calling me in tears demanding justice. They simply cannot come to terms with the fact that Robert Courtney could gain partial freedom while they still endure the consequences of his heinous acts.” Ketchmark said.
A Decade-long Criminal Operation Uncovered
Courtney’s atrocities came to light in 2001 following an investigation during which he confessed to diluting 72 different medications over a span of nearly ten years. These diluted medicines were primarily meant for treating cancer patients, but other severely ill patients were also affected. AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis patients, among others, were victim to his wicked money-making scheme. Authorities estimated that as many as 4,200 patients could have suffered negative effects from Courtney’s manipulations.
Courtney justified the dilution of drugs as a financial strategy, claiming that he needed funds to settle a $600,000 tax bill and to complete a $1 million pledge to his church.
Millions Paid in Settlements
Following numerous lawsuits against Courtney, his insurance company agreed to pay $35 million to victims, while two pharmaceutical companies involved in distributing the diluted drugs paid a whopping $71 million in settlements.
Halfway house relocation arrangements for specific inmates are withheld from public disclosure for safety and security reasons, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The bureau, however, maintains a record of the final release dates for all inmates. In Courtney’s case, May 2, 2026, is indicated as his final release date.
Earlier Freedom Bids Met with Strong Opposition
The pharmaceutical crook’s pending transition to a halfway house isn’t the first of its kind. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a review by the U.S. Department of Justice proposed Courtney’s early release in 2020 due to his health complications. Reports indicated that Courtney had a history of hypertension, a stroke, three heart attacks, cancer, and internal bleeding during his imprisonment.
However, the early release was blocked by four U.S. lawmakers who insisted that the Attorney General, William Barr, intervene. Courtney was therefore kept incarcerated despite the deteriorating health conditions.
Victims of Courtney’s misdeeds are hoping for a similar outcome to this recent development, haunted by the prospect of the man responsible for their losses walking free, even if it is just into a halfway house.
