Published: Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Dentist accused of distributing 2,600 Vicodin tablets for money
'Person No. 1,' a co-conspirator, is not identified in court papers.
KINSMAN — Dr. Donald J. Chionchio is charged in federal court with distributing nearly 2,600 Vicodin tablets from his dentist office for cash.
A two-count information filed in Cleveland federal court alleges that Dr. Chionchio conspired with others to possess with the intent to distribute Vicodin ES (a painkiller), and drug trafficking at his Main Street N.E. office between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2005.
An information means that a defendant has waived his right to indictment by a grand jury and, in nearly all cases, reached a plea agreement with the government.
The phone directory lists Chionchio's residential address as State Street in Kinsman.
The information alleges that Chionchio conspired with "Person No. 1," not identified or charged in court papers, and others and the object was to make money. The government did not give a dollar amount.
What's alleged
The dentist would use his Drug Enforcement Administration registration to purchase quantities of Vicodin, and Person No. 1, while employed by Chionchio, would dispense and distribute the tablets in exchange for cash to people the dentist directed to visit his office, the government said. The tablets were dispensed beyond the bounds of medicine and for no legitimate medical purpose, the government said.
The information lists the initials of nine people and the dates they obtained Vicodin tablets at the Main Street office from either Chionchio or Person No. 1.
The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. and is being prosecuted by Virginia D. Hearey, an assistant U.S. attorney. As of Tuesday, no hearing date had been set.
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