The now former mayor of Bridgeport
Mario Blount faces three felony
charges, including one count of false or fraudulent material omission, one
count of distribution of oxymorphone and one count of conspiracy to distribute
oxycodone and oxymorphone.
Blount and co-defendants Angela and
April Davis were indicted and arrested on June 3, accused of illegally
dispensing over 11,000 oxycodone and oxymorphone pills for non-legitimate
medical purposes over the course of three years. The alleged actions were
conducted during his tenure as the Chief Pharmacist at Best Care Pharmacy.
The arrests came after a ten month
investigation conducted in cooperation between the DEA and the Greater Harrison
County Drug Task Force which began with a raid of Best Care Pharmacy locations
in Bridgeport
The evidence gathered during the
raids was enough to bring charges against Blount and his co-conspirators.
Blount originally entered a plea of
not guilty during his June 6 arraignment. However, more evidence came to light
and he was named in an information filed on August 26, which typically
indicates the defendant is cooperating and entering into a plea deal is
imminent.
His co-defendants are expected to
soon enter pleas as well.
His plea hearing is scheduled
before U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keely at 11:30 a.m. on Friday.
If he pleads guilty to the charges
against him listed in the original indictment, he faces up to 24 years in
prison. However, if a plea deal is reached, he could plead guilty to a lesser
charge.
