Doctor & wife busted by TBI
By: BEN BENTON Staff Writer
Source: The Daily Post-Athenian (Athens TN)
10-04-2004
http://dpa.xtn.net/index.php?template=news.view.subscriber&table=news&newsid
=115448
An Athens physician and his wife were arrested on multiple counts of drug
possession by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation during a search of his
office on Cook Drive Thursday.
Arrested were Dr. Lorenzo Dudley Nichols III, 38, and Sherry Ann Nichols,
35, both of 446 County Road 758, Riceville, according to records at the
McMinn County Justice Center.
Contacted this morning in Nashville TBI Public Information Officer Jennifer
Johnson said a tip led to the couple's arrest.
"Yesterday, the Tennessee Bureau Investigation's Medicaid Fraud Unit
executed search warrants at the office of Dr. Lorenzo Nichols. The warrants
were obtained after investigators received a tip the doctor had been writing
unnecessary prescriptions for Schedules II, III and IV narcotics," Johnson
said.
Johnson said TBI agents and McMinn County Sheriff's deputies served the
search warrant at Nichols' office at 705 Cook Drive Suite 203.
"During the search Thursday morning at his office agents discovered evidence
of the narcotics and drug paraphernalia that prompted charges against the
doctor and his wife," Johnson said. "Dr. Nichols was also arrested on a
child support attachment from Floyd County, Ky."
Dr. and Mrs. Nichols were each charged with possession of Schedule II drugs,
possession of Schedule III drugs, possession of Schedule IV drugs,
possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of Schedule VI drugs, jail
records stated. Lorenzo Nichols was additionally charged on an attachment
for child support on a Kentucky warrant.
Mrs. Nichols is free on $6,500 bond while Dr. Nichols is being held without
bond on the attachment for child support and on $8,500 bond on the
drug-related charges, jail records stated.
Both are scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court today for
arraignment.
"Ironically, I think his medical license expired at midnight last night,"
Johnson said this morning.
Johnson said the TBI probe involved considerable investigation leading up to
the execution of the search warrant.
"There was extensive legwork done on the case before yesterday," said
Johnson. "We've been working in conjunction with some informants for quite
some time."
According to TBI officials, some of the drugs seized in connection with the
charges included hydrocodone, Tylox, Xanax, and marijuana, along with other
drugs.
Johnson said the TBI wanted to thank the McMinn County Sheriff's Department
whose officers assisted in the operation.