Steven Hefter

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Steven Bruce Hefter (born c. 1957) is a former cardiologist who pleaded guilty to federal charges of dispensing controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose in connection with a pain clinic in Moody.

Hefter attended the University of Wisconsin and earned his medical degree at the George Washington School of Medicine in 1983. He completed his residency through Wayne State University Hospital in 1986. He lost his license to practice medicine in West Virginia in 2004 for unprofessional and unethical conduct.

He has practiced as a specialist in treatment for opioid addiction as CEO of The Life Group in Hoover, Anniston and Decatur. From 2012 to 2016 he was employed at Cindy Dunn & Dr Buckingham M.D. Weight Loss Clinic & Pain Management in Moody. Prosecutors described the clinic as a "pill mill" which was not properly examining patients and which was issuing pre-signed prescriptions for opioids.

He also earned income as a sports official and by driving for Uber.

Hefter pleaded guilty before Judge L. Scott Coogler in December 2017 and was sentenced in May 2019 to serve 7 1/4 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

References

  • Robinson, Carol (October 27, 2017) "Vestavia Hills doctor charged in federal 'pill mill' case." The Birmingham News
  • Koplowitz, Howard (May 3, 2019) "Vestavia Hills doctor gets 87 months in prison for illegally prescribing opioids." The Birmingham News