Pharmacist's wife to give money to victim fund

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The wife of Kansas City pharmacist Robert R. Courtney has agreed to turn over more than $2 million to a fund set up for his victims and other fines.

Courtney, 49, pleaded guilty in February to 20 felony counts of tampering with, adulterating and misbranding the cancer drugs Taxol and Gemzar.

In an agreement signed last week his wife, Laura Courtney, agreed to transfer $2.35 million to her husband's account to be used for restitution and fines.

"The parties believe that the settlement amount represents a fair approximation of the amount of proceeds derived from the illegal acts of Robert R. Courtney, which were later received by Laura Courtney," the agreement states.

The money will be added to Courtney assets previously seized by the government and estimated at more than $8 million.

Sentencing in December

Courtney is to be sentenced Dec. 5 by U.S. District Judge Ortrie D. Smith. Smith had previously set a sentencing date of Dec. 6, but he moved it up one day because of a scheduling conflict.

Under a plea agreement and his promise to cooperate in the investigation of his crimes, Courtney's sentence is to range from between 17 and 30 years in prison, without parole.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip Eugene Porter has said the government will argue for a 30-year sentence, which he has characterized as the "functional equivalent of a life sentence."

The criminal complaint against Courtney was filed on Aug. 14, 2001. After that, according to court records, Courtney attempted to transfer more than $5 million to his wife. Government action blocked about half of that, but more than $2 million was successfully transferred to Laura Courtney.

Laura Courtney has three children -- twin boys by her marriage to Robert Courtney and a daughter from her previous marriage.

"Laura Courtney had no involvement in Robert Courtney's dilution activities," said Matt Geiger, her attorney. "She has divested herself of the money generated by Robert Courtney's criminal acts. The government has approximated that her remaining assets are legitimate."