Xiulu Ruan and John Patrick Couch, both formerly pain management doctors practicing in Mobile, Alabama, were resentenced to 252 months and 240 months, respectively. In 2017, a jury convicted Ruan and Couch of numerous offenses connected to their former medical practice, Physicians Pain Specialists of Alabama, and their related pharmacy C&R Pharmacy. The jury found that Ruan and Couch committed numerous drug and fraud offenses connected primarily to the unlawful prescribing of powerful opioid medications including fentanyl, and also convicted Ruan of money laundering offenses related to the schemes. Following the trial, US District Court Judge Callie V.S. Granade sentenced Ruan and Couch to 252 and 240 months, respectively, and ordered the defendants to pay full restitution of nearly $14 million to the victims. In addition, the United States forfeited millions of dollars in property, vehicles, and cash that Ruan and Couch obtained from their crimes.
The case was returned to Judge Granade for resentencing after the completion of appeals before the Supreme Court and the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Although the Eleventh Circuit vacated several of the convictions, the appellate courts affirmed the most substantial charges connected to the fraudulent scheme. On resentencing, Judge Granade again sentenced Ruan and Couch to 252 and 240 months in prison, respectively. All restitution and forfeiture aspects of the sentence were reimposed as well.
