BANKS

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By FRANK LEWIS

PDT Staff Writer

Fred Alverson, law enforcement coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office-Southern District of Ohio, says Columbus physician Brenda Banks has changed her plea to guilty and agreed to help in the prosecution of others, in a deal struck with the government on a charge of acquiring or possessing a controlled substance by deception.

Banks, 58, of Columbus became the third defendant in the Sadler pain clinic trial to change her plea on Monday in Federal Court in Cincinnati. Two others, James Sadler, 81, of West Portsmouth and Lisa Clevenger, 49 of Stoutsville had both previously changed their pleas to guilty and, like Banks, are awaiting sentencing.

Among the details of her plea the United States’ Attorney’s Office asked for and received this agreement, “The defendant agrees to provide full, complete and truthful cooperation to the United States in the investigation or prosecution of others who have committed offenses. Such cooperation includes, but is not limited to, testifying truthfully in connection with any related court proceeding, upon request of the United States. In addition, the defendant agrees to provide the United States all relevant documents in her possession or control relating to the charges set forth in the information and the pending indictment; all contraband and proceeds of the crime; and all assets traceable to such proceeds of the crime.”

The charge Banks pleaded to says that from December 2002 and continuing through Feb. 19, 2008, she was employed by and represented herself as a chronic pain management doctor at the Ohio Medical and Pain Management Clinic in Waverly, and that between Feb. 5, 2003, and June 13, 2007, Banks agreed to and permitted the owners and operators of the clinic, Nancy and Lester Sadler, to order and pay for about 219,860 dosage units of controlled substances, mostly hydrocodone.

Nancy Sadler, 48, owner of the clinic and her husband, Lester “Ape” Sadler, 56, both of West Portsmouth; and Sandy Wells, 53, of South Shore, Ky., were scheduled to go on trial at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the courtroom of Judge Sandra Beckwith in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com.