October 14, 2016
A member of a notorious Philadelphia biker gang was sentenced to prison Friday for his role in a pill mill, prosecutors said.
Joseph Mitchell Sr., a member of the Pagans Motorcycle Club, was given a nine-year sentence for his role in illegally distributing prescription drugs like oxycodone, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Mitchell, along with eight others, allegedly orchestrated the operation with former doctor William O’Brien, who would reportedly write fake prescriptions to "patients" recruited by the Pagans to buy the drugs.
O'Brien would charge $250 for the fake patients' first appointment to get the drugs and $200 for each subsequent appointment, prosecutors said.
The Pagans would then allegedly take the drugs and sell them on the street for up to $30 a pill.
O'Brien was sentenced to 30 years in prison earlier in October for his role in the scheme, which allegedly netted the former doctor $2 million.
In addition to the prison sentence, a judge ordered Mitchell to serve three years of supervised release and to pay a special assessment of $100.
The eight other co-defendants in the case are awaiting sentencing.
