A status conference is set for Dec. 20 in the case of six people arrested and indicted in August for conspiracy in connection with the operation of a fraudulent pain management clinic, Ohio Medical and Pain Management LLC, in Waverly.

Charged following the closing of the pain clinic by federal authorities were Nancy Sadler, 47, of West Portsmouth (also known as Maria, Marie, and Renee), who is owner of the clinic and named in all 29 counts; Lester Sadler, 55, of West Portsmouth (also known as Ape), the husband of Nancy Sadler, named in 27 counts; Lisa Clevenger, 48, of Stoutsville, a sister of Nancy Sadler, charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of illegally maintaining a place to distribute a controlled substance; James Sadler, 80, of West Portsmouth, father of Lester Sadler, charged with one count of conspiracy and 24 counts of illegally distributing controlled substances; Brenda Banks, 57, of Columbus, formerly a physician at the clinic, charged with one count of operating a continuing enterprise; and Sandy Wells, 52, of South Shore, Ky., a clinic employee, is charged with one count of conspiracy.

The defendants had been scheduled for a hearing in September.

“The judge, Sandra Beckwith, granted a continuance because the defendants asked for it, given the large volume of information, recordings, what-have-you, that they have to go through,” said Fred Alverson, law enforcement coordinator for the Southern District of Ohio for the U.S. Department of Justice United States Attorney’s Office. “But there is no new trial date set. We should know something Dec. 20.”

Alverson said Beckwith is also involved in the case of a Portsmouth doctor who was arrested on drug charges.

“She has Dr. (Paul) Volkman’s case as well,” Alverson said. “It is set for March 1. Denise Huffman, one of the co-defendants, pleaded guilty on Nov. 10, and I think Alice Huffman Ball has already entered her plea. So Volkman’s co-defendants have pleaded guilty.”

Volkman was a medical pain management doctor in southern Ohio when, on Feb. 10, 2006, the DEA raided his office. Charges were filed in May 2007.

Huffman, 57, and Ball, 35, of South Portsmouth, Ky., were also charged in that indictment.

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