Illinois Dentist Sentenced to 15 Years for Stealing Fentanyl, Performing Surgeries Without Proper Pain Management
A dentist from Rochester, Illinois is headed to federal prison and was stripped of his medical license for stealing fentanyl from patients and performing surgery without proper pain management.
64-year-old Phillip Jensen was sentenced to 15 years behind bars and ordered to pay a $200,000 fine.
Jensen pleaded guilty to a variety of charges in August 2024. He was indicted in February 2022 but was out on bond until July 2024 when a warrant was issued for his arrest for allegedly stalking and harassing a potential witness in the case.
“People are never as vulnerable as when they place their faith in a health care provider to not only treat their condition but to administer anesthesia and pain medicine during that treatment. Jensen abused that faith and hurt others in the process. Because of this prosecution, Jensen will not be permitted to practice medicine again and will be prevented from hurting members of our community in the future,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris of the Central District of Illinois.
Filling Vials with Saline
According to court documents, Jensen admitted to stealing at least half of the fentanyl in every vial in his practice. The dentist removed the safety seals, removed half the fentanyl, and refilled the vials with saline, gluing the caps back on. More than 40 grams of fentanyl were stolen.
The suspect also falsified records claiming he had given full-strength, unadulterated fentanyl to patients, and billed public and private insurance for the surgeries using the falsified records.
At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Colleen M. Lawless rejected Jensen’s plea that he was less culpable than an average drug dealer, noting that he profited from his crimes and provided diluted drugs to patients without their knowledge.
Prosecutors also read statements from several of Jensen’s victims, including ta mother who discussed looking into the face of their child immediately following the surgery as the child cried and stated that they had “felt everything.”
“Health care professionals who tamper with patient medications create a risk of harm to patients, and also put at risk the trust that U.S. consumers have in those who provide their medical care,” said Ronne Malham, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations Chicago Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice health care professionals who take advantage of their unique medical positions and tamper with patients’ medications.”
The case was investigated by the FDA Diversion Unit Springfield Resident Office, with assistance from the broader FDA, and Illinois state and local officials.
