Lansdell Family Clinic trial postponed to 2024

By Patrick Massey

TEXARKANA, Ark. - A 2024 trial date has been set after a continuance was issued for eight area healthcare providers and pharmacists charged following an investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in 2021.

The federal case was set for trial in June of this year. However, a continuance was issued and the trial date has been postponed to 2024.

The five nurse practitioners and three pharmacists were arraigned in federal court in Texarkana last year on charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose.

A superseding indictment filed in April of 2022 added five defendants and allegations of healthcare fraud and wire fraud related to federal pandemic relief funds.

Count one of the superseding indictment included allegations identical to those in the original indictment.

ment in counts alleging fraud.

The individuals charged in the DEA investigation include Tawnya Lee Lansdell, Claire Terece Russell, Wendy Wynette Gammon, Shelly Rae Eastridge, Bonita Louis Martin, Candace Micheele Whitely, Gina Robinson and Stephen Haden Sullivan.

Federal prosecutors claim the eight defendants “knowingly and intentionally conspired to possess with intent to distribute Scheduled II controlled substances, hydrocodone and oxycodone, and other Schedule II, III and IV controlled substances, without an effective prescription.”

The dates these offenses are alleged to have occurred range from January 2019 to May in 2021 at Lansdell Family Clinics and partnering pharmacies in De Queen, Dierks, Lockesburg and Texarkana.