Arrest warrant issued for former Stoddard County doctor on drug charges

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A warrant was issued Monday for the arrest of a former Stoddard County doctor who is accused of using a fictitious name to obtain prescription medications, as well as illegally possessing the drugs, the Daily American Republic newspaper reported.

Dr. Donna Jo Allmon, a family practice physician whose last known address was at Advance, Mo., was charged with seven Class D felonies of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and seven Class C felonies of possession of a controlled substance by Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn.

After considering the complaint and probable cause affidavit filed with the court, Associate Circuit Judge Joe Satterfield issued a warrant for Allmon's arrest and set her bond at $50,000 cash. Allmon, 43, had not been arrested by press time Tuesday morning.

The complaint alleges on seven dates between March and May 2009 Allmon "knowingly attempted to obtain/obtained a controlled substance," specifically Valium, Alprazolam (twice), Norco (three times) and Lortab, and she "did so by entering a fictitious name on her 'Record of Exempt Narcotics/Controlled Paraphernalia Sold' form maintained in accordance with Missouri statute."

On the same dates, Allmon is accused of "knowingly" possessing the drugs.

On Jan. 5, SEMO Task Force Officer Daniel Seger was contacted by Randy Wright, an investigator with the Missouri Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs.

In his probable cause affidavit, Seger said, he was contacted in reference to "a prescription fraud investigation involving Dr. Donna Allmon."

Seger said Wright provided him with Allmon's Record of Exempt Narcotics/Controlled Paraphernalia Sold log, aka dispensing log.

"Wright advised me that through his investigation he had received information that Dr. Allmon had obtained controlled substances from her office's narcotic supply under the false name of Debbie Price," Seger said.

Wright, according to Seger, obtained the log from Rochelle Halter, an employee of Allmon.

Seger said he later spoke with Halter, "who advised me that Dr. Allmon had been obtaining controlled substance from her office under the name Debbie Price."

When Seger went over the dispensing log with Halter it was determined "Allmon obtained controlled substances from her office supply" on March 23, 2009 (Valium and Alprazolam); March 25, 2009 (Alprazolam); March 31, 2009, April 6, 2009, and April 13, 2009, (Norco); and May 12 (Lortab).

"All of these were dispensed under the name of Debbie Price," Seger said.

A subpoena, Seger said, subsequently was issued to an Advance doctor, who was the recipient of all of Allmon's patient files.

"A search of these files was conducted and no file was located for Debbie Price," Seger said. "A computer check was also done in an attempt to locate the address in Jackson, Mo., listed for Price.

"This check showed that this address was not a valid address."

According to supplemental reports filed with the court, investigators found Allmon's practice at Gilead Family Clinic in Advance closed in the summer of 2009. Her medical records reportedly had been transferred to another Advance clinic.

A check of Allmon's log also documented where drugs reportedly were dispensed to "Snow White" and "Sleeping Beauty."

A former employee told investigators "Dr. Allmon was getting into the drug cabinet all the time and taking things out. ... the doctor would put down a fake name."

Prescriptions also were found to be logged in the names of Allmon's mother and sister.

Allmon's sister had been a patient and had received "some prescriptions from her, but did not believe she had received all of them," which were on the log, Seger said.

Investigators found no patient chart had been transferred to the Advance Clinic for Allmon's sister.

After closing her Advance Clinic, Allmon reported to state officials twice she was practicing at a Cape Girardeau clinic.

When contacted each time, clinic officials there reportedly told investigators Allmon "was not at that location and would not be at that location."

Allmon subsequently reported to the state she was going to work at Kneibert Clinic.

Clinic administrator Bob Christian told investigators he had planned on allowing Allmon to practice at the clinic, but her attendance "became sporadic" and she had not shown up for work since Dec. 30.

Christian reported Allmon's contract was not renewed at Kneibert Clinic, and her agreement there ended Jan. 12.

According to a spokesman with the Missouri Board of Healing Arts, Allmon's license expired Jan. 30 and "there is no disciplinary action."