UPDATED: Destin physician charged with writing prescriptions that led to two patient deaths

DESTIN – A local physician was arrested by federal agents Friday and charged with illegally writing prescriptions that allegedly led to the deaths of two patients.

A federal grand jury handed Robert Bourlier, 54, and his wife, Victoria Bourlier, 51, a 151-count indictment Friday. The physician was charged with unlawfully dispensing controlled substances and health care fraud. The wife, who is also known as Karen Victoria Ritchey, was charged with obstruction of justice.

Robert Bourlier unnecessarily prescribed medicine in quantities and dosages that caused patients to abuse and become addicted to drugs, according to a Department of Justice press release. Even after learning patients were addicted, had suffered overdoses, were selling drugs or were “doctor shopping,” Bourlier continued to write them prescriptions, the release said.

Bourlier is charged with 128 counts of unlawfully dispensing controlled substances, which include narcotic opiates, sedatives, the anti-anxiety drug alprazolam, barbiturates, anti-convulsant medicine and phentermine, a central nervous system stimulant, the release said.

He also faces two counts of dispensing controlled substances that resulted in the death of an individual. September 2006 prescriptions for methadone and alprazolam and August 2007 prescriptions for hydrocodone and alprazolam led to the deaths of two patients, the release said.

Bourlier is charged with 20 counts of health care fraud for writing prescriptions that caused health care benefit providers to pay for unnecessary quantities of drugs, the release said. Bourlier also allegedly submitted fraudulent claims for medical services.

If Bourlier is convicted for the September 2006 incident, he faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years and a maximum of life in prison, along with a $1 million fine. Bourlier could face maximum sentences ranging between 3 and 40 years if convicted on the other 149 counts.

Victoria Bourlier allegedly obstructed justice by removing records, documents, two safes and a duffel bag from the couple’s home while authorities were executing a search warrant at the doctor’s office, according to the release. Her charge carries a maximum prison term of 20 years.

The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of Robert Bourlier’s real and personal property.

The couple’s Friday morning arrest in Destin followed a two-year investigation by a joint Federal and State North Florida Health Care Fraud Task Force. Citizens and pharmacists had tipped off investigators to the alleged conduct.

Robert and Victoria Bourlier are scheduled to appear in federal District Court in Pensacola March 10.