Baypines VA Surgeon Charged with Illegally Obtaining Drugs

Dr. Richard Carpenter, a surgeon at Baypines VA, has been arrested and charged with illegally obtaining more than 500 pills of Valium since October 2012. 

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, the 58-year-old St. Petersburg resident would use an acquaintance doctor's name and DEA number to obtain the prescriptions illegally.  

Deputies said Carpenter, of 180 Beach Drive Apt #1501, would also use his health care insurance to offset the cost of the prescription.

Authorities say Carpenter had called in several fraudulent Valium (Diazepam) prescriptions for himself since October 2012.

Prior to his arrest on Jan. 30, deputies said he attempted to obtain more pills. 

Carpenter, according to the police report, is charged with five counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and one count of attempting to obtain a controlled substance by fraud.