Wife of Pinellas Park pill mill doctor gets 4 years in prison
Kim Feldman, the wife of Dr. Edward Feldman, was sentenced Tuesday to four years in prison, or a little less with good behavior, for her role in her husband's pill mill operation.
Kim Feldman, the wife of Dr. Edward Feldman, was sentenced Tuesday to four years in prison, or a little less with good behavior, for her role in her husband's pill mill operation.
While not a medical doctor, Kim Feldman managed her husband's Pinellas Park clinic, Feldman Orthopedic and Wellness Center (FOWC), where he prescribed pain medications to patients for no legitimate purpose that resulted in the 2010 and 2011 deaths of patients Joey Mayes, 24, Ricky Gonzalez, 42, and Shannon Wren, 42. Two of them had visited Dr. Feldman only once before their deaths.
Pinellas-Pasco medical examiners reported all three had died as a result of multi-drug toxicity related to the large amounts of methadone, oxycodone, alprazolam, and diazepam found in their systems -- drugs the clinic dispensed.
Only her husband was held accountable for their deaths.
Both Feldmans were convicted of five other counts relating to an illegal drug conspiracy and illegal financial transactions.
The 76-year-old was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison.
Our news partner The Tampa Bay Times reports defense attorney Tim Taylor told the judge that Kim Feldman grew up in a culture that expected women to submit to husbands, which may have contributed to her belief in the doctor, which in turn blinded her.
But prosecutor Shauna Hale reminded the judge of the evidence against the wife. The judge also noted her key role in money laundering which included a series of cash deposits structured to fall below the threshold for federal reporting requirements.
According to evidence presented at trial, from October 2009 through December 2014, the Feldmans saw between 80-100 patients a day. New patients paid $300 in cash and follow-up patients paid $150-$225. Insurance was not accepted at the clinic.
Evidence also showed the couple deposited more than $5 million in cash in dozens of bank accounts during that time. They used proceeds from FOWC to purchase their home and property for their business and to fund investment accounts.
In addition to the four-year prison sentence, Kim Feldman must serve three years of supervised release.
The couple was also ordered to forfeit their home, a Mercedes Benz, an Infinity EX35, the clinic property, and $489,000 in cash which are traceable proceeds to the crime.
