A Levittown doctor has agreed to pay $300,000 related to allegations that he violated the Controlled Substances Act, according to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
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Dr. Joseph E. Kepko, who has offices in Middletown Township’s Levittown section, Bensalem Township, and Mercer County, New Jersey, agreed to the settlement and a three-year monitoring program with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
According to federal authorities:
“Kepko, a Levittown physician, is registered to prescribe, administer, purchase and dispense Schedule II-V controlled substances. The settlement announced today resolves allegations that between January 2021 and August 2023, Kepko failed to maintain adequate DEA registrations for multiple medical practices that he owned, operated, and stored controlled substances. Furthermore, Kepko failed to maintain complete and accurate records of controlled substances, failed to take a biennial inventory, and had possession of pre-signed prescriptions in violation of the CSA, and specifically, 21 C.F.R. §§ 1304.21(a) and 1304.11(d).
“In addition to the $300,000 penalty, Kepko has entered into a three-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the DEA, which includes a number of monitoring requirements. Specifically, Kepko must report all patient requests for controlled substances that give rise to suspicion that the patient is engaging in or attempting to engage in illegal drug diversion conduct for both Kepko’s Pennsylvania and New Jersey DEA registered addresses. Kepko must also share Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) pertaining to all aspects of purchasing, storing, and distributing controlled substances with DEA.”
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Kepko told LevittownNow.com on Friday afternoon that the settlement was due to a paperwork error and he’s worked to correct the mistake.
“All I did was screw up paperwork, and I learned a very expensive lesson, but it was not nefarious,” he admitted, citing his years of working in the community.
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“It won’t happen again,” the doctor said.
The civil settlement came after investigation by DEA offices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
“Pharmacies, and in this case, a physician owner, are entrusted with the privilege of dispensing powerful prescriptions. With that responsibility comes the obligation to properly register their locations, as well as safeguard and keep proper inventory over their drugs,” said Thomas Hodnett, special agent in charge of the DEA Philadelphia Field Division. “Civil settlements and monitoring requirements imposed against Kepko can help ensure that these safeguards are met.”
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U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Jacqueline Romero said federal authorities are working to hold doctors and pharmacies responsible for keeping proper inventory over drugs.
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