DEA arrests El Paso Doctor Thomas Easter on illegal Xanax drug distribution charges

An El Paso family doctor accused of illegally distributing Xanax and other prescription drugs was arrested by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration this week.

Dr. Thomas Glenn Easter II was arrested by DEA agents on Monday after a federal grand jury returned a 12-count indictment last week, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Easter, 66, was arrested along with Elizabeth Lightfoot, 28, both of whom are accused in a prescription-drug distribution scheme dating back to 2014, according to court documents.

The indictment stated that Easter is accused of dispensing Xanax and other drugs "outside the scope of professional practice and not for legitimate medical purpose."

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The Texas Medical Board lists Easter with a primary medical practice at 299 Shadow Mountain Drive No. C, which is the address of Family Medicine of West Texas.

Online listings show Easter as a doctor with Sun City Medical Practice, 2931 Montana Ave. in Five Points across the street from El Paso Police Headquarters.

"Authorities alleged that Dr. Easter, with assistance from Ms. Lightfoot, was responsible for doling out numerous prescriptions involving a variety of medications in exchange for favors," stated a U.S. Attorney's Office news release.

Xanax is the brand name of Alprazolam, an addictive prescription drug used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.

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"Prescription drug abuse has become increasingly prevalent in the community," U.S. Attorney John F. Bash said in a statement.

"We are going to crack down hard on licensed medical professionals who violate federal law — not to mention their professional obligations — in illegally dispensing controlled substances," Bash said.

The case was investigated by the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad in El Paso along with the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Easter and Lightfoot "contributed to the controlled substance abuse epidemic plaguing our society," Steve Borak, acting special agent in charge of the DEA in El Paso, said in a statement.

Easter faces 10 counts of illegal possession of Xanax and other drugs with the intent to distribute. Easter and Lightfoot each face two counts of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

Both Easter and Lightfoot have been released from jail on bond, officials said.

If convicted, they each face up to five years in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

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DEA, Texas Medical Board and El Paso County court records show Easter was previously convicted and punished for improperly prescribing drugs.

In 2001, Easter was convicted on state charges of eight counts of possession of a controlled substance by fraud, according to El Paso County court records.

Easter was given a $10,000 fine, 600 hours of community service and 10 years probation, records showed. The probation ended in 2011.

The conviction stemmed from incidents in 1997-1998, according to DEA records.

In 2004, the DEA blocked Easter from having the authority to issue prescriptions.

A DEA report stated that a hearing officer reported that Easter saw nothing wrong with what he had done, showed no remorse and would likely write fraudulent prescriptions again, if he felt justified.

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Last June, the Texas Medical Board banned Easter from treating patients for chronic pain for 10 years along with other restrictions and requirements to complete added educational programs, according to a board physician profile on Easter.

The medical board found Easter "failed to meet the standard of care in the treatment of chronic pain for 15 patients" and failed to maintain proper medical and prescription records, documents stated.

In 2016, the Texas Medical Board reprimanded Easter for "inappropriate prescribing of controlled substances."

The board issued a $2,000 fine and ordered another doctor to monitor Easter's medical practice.

Daniel Borunda may be reached at 546-6102; dborunda@elpasotimes.com; @BorundaDaniel on Twitter.