CITIZEN STAFF REPORT

FRANKFORT — A federal jury in Frankfort convicted Johnson County clinic owner Jeremy Bryson, 47, of Harrodsburg, on March 4 of unlawfully distributing controlled substances following an eight-day trial.

After approximately two hours of deliberation, the jury found Bryson guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, six counts of distribution of controlled substances, one count of conspiracy to use a Drug Enforcement Administration registration issued to another person and one count of money laundering.

According to evidence presented at trial, Bryson and his father, Don Bryson, operated Appalachian Family Medicine, a medical clinic in Paintsville. Don Bryson had surrendered his medical license in 2012 after a Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure investigation into complaints about his controlled substance prescribing practices. Jeremy Bryson later hired him as a “medical consultant” at the clinic.

Prosecutors said the clinic operated as a cash-only practice that routinely issued illegitimate prescriptions for controlled substances to patients. Although Appalachian Family Medicine was not registered as a pain management facility, the clinic issued controlled substance prescriptions to the majority of its patients.

Evidence showed that between January 2021 and early 2022, 14 separate medical providers worked at the clinic. Many left after only a few days. Testimony indicated Jeremy and Don Bryson pressured those temporary providers to write prescriptions while limiting the time they spent with patients and restricting their access to tools commonly used for safe prescribing, including drug testing and prescription drug monitoring reports.

In August and September 2021, prosecutors said Jeremy Bryson directed clinic staff to misuse the DEA registration number of an absent medical provider. The number allowed controlled substance prescriptions to continue being issued in that provider’s name without her knowledge.

The trial also included evidence that Bryson laundered proceeds from the illegal prescribing scheme. In August 2021, he used $67,466.40 derived from the offenses to purchase a Ram 2500 pickup truck.

Jeremy Bryson is scheduled to appear for sentencing June 2. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, though the court will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable federal statutes.