Reeves, Bartlett await sentencing

Donna Faye Atkins Reeves, 49, and Vickie Parsons Bartlett, 47, both have entered guilty pleas in federal court as part of an apparent plea agreement with federal prosecutors.

Reeves plead guilty to conspiring to possess and distribute oxycontin and methadone on or about June 6, 2003 until Dec. 21, 2004 in Alleghany County. She also plead guilty to aiding and abetting and scheming to defraud health care benefit programs (otherwise known as health care fraud) between Aug. 2, 2003 and Dec. 15, 2004. The total amount of $12,886.33 was allegedly taken by fraud. Her plea was entered before a judge on Jan. 17, said Department of Justice spokesperson Suellen Pierce in Charlotte.

The maximum penalty for the conspiracy count is up to 20 years in prison or a $1 million fine or both. The maximum sentence for the fraud count up to 10 years in prison or a $250,000 fine or both.

Bartlett pleaded guilty to one charge of health care fraud, which was entered before a judge on Dec. 6.

Both Reeves and Bartlett have been free on bond since July 2005. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office said sentencing is generally taking 120 days or more due to a backlog of cases requiring pre-sentencing reports.

The two were among six charged in a federal indictment filed on June 27, 2005 by a grand jury in Charlotte with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone and methadone and other offenses.

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