Smith Township man indicted for drug, money laundering crimes
A Smith Township man was indicted in federal court Tuesday on charges he conspired with two physicians to unlawfully distribute drugs at an opioid addiction clinic in Cambria County.
The indictment against Stephen K. Shaner, 69, accuses him of conspiring with Michael Cash and Ruth Jones to create and submit illegal prescriptions for buprenorphine and dispense the drug at SKS Associates Inc.
The indictment identifies Shaner as owner and operator of SKS at 2001 Bedford St., Johnstown. Jones and Cash have pleaded guilty in the case and are awaiting sentencing, according to a Wednesday news release from the office of U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady.
Shaner also is accused of conspiring with the physicians to commit health care fraud by turning in fraudulent claims to Medicare to pay for the illegally prescribed opioid, which is used to treat those addicted to narcotic painkillers.
He also is charged with using or maintaining a drug-involved premises between May 2012 and April 2018, and using the proceeds of his alleged drug activity in violation of federal money-laundering laws.
Brady said the region has made progress in fighting the opioid epidemic, and that overdose deaths have been reduced.
“But our work is not done,” he said. “We will continue to investigate and prosecute those who prey on people with opioid addiction.”
Cash, of Indiana, pleaded guilty Aug. 31 and is scheduled for sentencing at 2:15 p.m. May 15 by U.S. Judge Cathy Bissoon. Jones, of Bedford, will be sentenced by Bissoon at 10 a.m. June 25.