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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 2:33 p.m., Saturday, June 21, 2008

Honolulu doctor found guilty of drug charges

Advertiser Staff

A federal court jury has found Dr. Barry Odegaard, 56, of Honolulu guilty of five of 13 charges of distributing controlled substances outside the course of professional medical practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's office in Honolulu.

Odegaard was acquitted on eight other counts.

The verdicts, delivered on Thursday, followed a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge David Ezra.

Edward Kubo Jr., U.S. attorney for Hawai'i, said an investigation was launched in 2004 and found that in five instances, Odegaard prescribed the drug Oxycontin illegally.

He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million for each count of conviction when sentenced by Ezra Oct. 14.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the federal Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, the Honolulu Police Department, and the state Department of Public Safety Narcotics Enforcement Division.

The case was prosecuted by assistant U.S. attorney Jonathan M.F. Loo.