A West Portsmouth couple awaiting a federal trial on illegal distribution of pain medication, has been ordered by the courts to cease making casino trips and spending thousands of dollars, income authorities say they are hiding.

U.S. District Judge Sandra Beckwith in the Southern District in Cincinnati, who will be hearing the case when the trial begins Feb. 12, has ordered Nancy and Lester (Ape) Sadler to stop making trips to casinos in Indiana.

According to a motion filed in U.S. District Court, Nancy and Lester “Ape” Sadler made false statements under oath to the court in their financial affidavit to obtain court-appointed counsel, all the while continuing to operate a pain clinic in Columbus, which is said to be bringing in $100,000 per month, and using money from the pain clinic to support their extensive gambling habits, by making trips outside the jurisdiction without permission.

Beckwith also prohibited the Sadlers from working in any kind of medical clinic while they are free on bond.

The government is asking the United States Southern District of Ohio Court to suspend the couple’s bond and send them to jail. The court granted the defendants’ motion for extension of time until Sept. 16 to respond to the government’s motion to revoke the couples’ bail. A hearing on the government’s motion is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sept. 26. Additional conditions of release imposed on the two defendants is that they will be permitted to travel to Florida in September subject to pretrial approval. That order was signed by Beckwith.

Several other people are charged in the original indictments including Lisa Clevenger of Stoutsville, James Sadler of West Portsmouth, Dr. Brenda Banks of Columbus and Sandy Wells of South Shore, Ky.

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