Ex-pharmacist who admitted to diluting cancer drugs will not get out of prison early – KMBC Kansas City

A former pharmacist who diluted drugs for thousands of cancer patients will not be released from prison early, pending a review from the U.S. Department of Justice.Robert Courtney, 67, was scheduled to be transferred to a halfway house Thursday and then serve his remaining sentence under house arrest, but Sen. Josh Hawley and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II said those plans have changed.The Department of Justice informed me this morning that they will not release Courtney from imprisonment, Hawley said. Cleaver said the Justice Department told him the release is still under review.Robert Courtney is a man who took advantage of public trust to commit abhorrent crimes that led to pain and suffering of hundreds, if not thousands, of Kansas Citians," Cleaver said. There are those in prison who have committed victimless crimes and are at high-risk of COVID-19 complications that, understandably, should be released for home confinement. However, Mr. Courtney is not one of these individuals. His crimes should disqualify him from early release, and Im hopeful as the Justice Department undergoes further review of this case they will come to the same conclusion.Hawley, Cleaver and other politicians called for Courtney to remain in prison when the news of his potential release from prison broke earlier this week.Thats the right call, Hawley said. COVID-19 should not be an opportunity at jailbreak for violent offenders.The original decision to release Courtney sparked outrage from the families that were impacted by his crimes."We lost a lot. He was a really great person," said Kathleen Duncan, daughter of Harry Duncan.Doctors told Harry Duncan that he had great odds of surviving his cancer. One year after he died, his family learned his pharmacist was Courtney."This man is a monster. I'm sorry. He's a murderer, and I don't know why he wasn't given longer than 30 years," Kathleen Duncan said.In 2002, Courtney was sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty. He admitted to diluting the prescription medications of 4,200 patients from 400 doctors. Some people received 1% of the dose they were prescribed."I'll never understand why they're letting him out 10 years early to be with his family," Duncan said."His ripple effect, I mean, just his victim pace is thousands of people," said Debra Allen.Allen's mother, Joyce Provance, died of ovarian cancer."He made all of his money. He cheated people based on health care and now, here we are in the biggest health care crisis of my lifetime, and it's getting him out of jail," Allen said.Attorney General William Barr originally directed the order for Courtney to be released because of the pandemic, but the Justice Department reversed course on Thursday.Missouri Gov. Mike Parson wrote Barr a letter on Wednesday requesting that he put a stop to Courtneys scheduled release.It is impossible to express the heartache and devastation brought about by his intentional criminal acts, and he should remain in prison until his sentence is complete, Parson said. I know these are troubling times and you are attempting to balance various needs. But this is a unique case and I urge your office to take a serious look at the release of Mr. Courtney.Elected officials Sen. Roy Blunt, Rep. Sam Graves, Hawley and Cleaver also sent letters to ask Barr to block the release.Courtneys crimes are heinous, the letter said. He inflicted a steep physical and emotional toll upon his victims for personal financial gain. He acted without consideration for the theft of his victims health and quality of life, and his actions can be described as no less than purposefully evil. Courtney should serve the entirety of his sentence as penance for his crimes both against his victims and against the public trust in medical care.The decision to release this individual fails to fully consider the public safety ramifications of his release and the impact that the release will have on his victims.After leaving the halfway house, Courtney had plans to live with family in Trimble, Missouri, which is north of Kansas City. Courtney had applied for compassionate release, which means his sentence could end early.

A former pharmacist who diluted drugs for thousands of cancer patients will not be released from prison early, pending a review from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Robert Courtney, 67, was scheduled to be transferred to a halfway house Thursday and then serve his remaining sentence under house arrest, but Sen. Josh Hawley and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II said those plans have changed.

The Department of Justice informed me this morning that they will not release Courtney from imprisonment, Hawley said.

Cleaver said the Justice Department told him the release is still under review.

Robert Courtney is a man who took advantage of public trust to commit abhorrent crimes that led to pain and suffering of hundreds, if not thousands, of Kansas Citians," Cleaver said.

There are those in prison who have committed victimless crimes and are at high-risk of COVID-19 complications that, understandably, should be released for home confinement. However, Mr. Courtney is not one of these individuals. His crimes should disqualify him from early release, and Im hopeful as the Justice Department undergoes further review of this case they will come to the same conclusion.

Hawley, Cleaver and other politicians called for Courtney to remain in prison when the news of his potential release from prison broke earlier this week.

Thats the right call, Hawley said. COVID-19 should not be an opportunity at jailbreak for violent offenders.

The original decision to release Courtney sparked outrage from the families that were impacted by his crimes.

"We lost a lot. He was a really great person," said Kathleen Duncan, daughter of Harry Duncan.

Doctors told Harry Duncan that he had great odds of surviving his cancer. One year after he died, his family learned his pharmacist was Courtney.

"This man is a monster. I'm sorry. He's a murderer, and I don't know why he wasn't given longer than 30 years," Kathleen Duncan said.

In 2002, Courtney was sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty. He admitted to diluting the prescription medications of 4,200 patients from 400 doctors. Some people received 1% of the dose they were prescribed.

"I'll never understand why they're letting him out 10 years early to be with his family," Duncan said.

"His ripple effect, I mean, just his victim pace is thousands of people," said Debra Allen.

Allen's mother, Joyce Provance, died of ovarian cancer.

"He made all of his money. He cheated people based on health care and now, here we are in the biggest health care crisis of my lifetime, and it's getting him out of jail," Allen said.

Attorney General William Barr originally directed the order for Courtney to be released because of the pandemic, but the Justice Department reversed course on Thursday.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson wrote Barr a letter on Wednesday requesting that he put a stop to Courtneys scheduled release.

It is impossible to express the heartache and devastation brought about by his intentional criminal acts, and he should remain in prison until his sentence is complete, Parson said. I know these are troubling times and you are attempting to balance various needs. But this is a unique case and I urge your office to take a serious look at the release of Mr. Courtney.

Elected officials Sen. Roy Blunt, Rep. Sam Graves, Hawley and Cleaver also sent letters to ask Barr to block the release.

Courtneys crimes are heinous, the letter said. He inflicted a steep physical and emotional toll upon his victims for personal financial gain. He acted without consideration for the theft of his victims health and quality of life, and his actions can be described as no less than purposefully evil. Courtney should serve the entirety of his sentence as penance for his crimes both against his victims and against the public trust in medical care.

The decision to release this individual fails to fully consider the public safety ramifications of his release and the impact that the release will have on his victims.

After leaving the halfway house, Courtney had plans to live with family in Trimble, Missouri, which is north of Kansas City. Courtney had applied for compassionate release, which means his sentence could end early.

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Ex-pharmacist who admitted to diluting cancer drugs will not get out of prison early - KMBC Kansas City

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