Levittown Doc Sentenced To 30 Years For Pill Mill Operation, Patient Death

A former Bucks County doctor found guilty of running a multimillion-dollar pill mill and causing the death of a Levittown patient has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. William J. O’Brien III, a doctor of osteopathic medicine who had an office in Levittown, was found guilty in June by a federal jury after a 23-day trial.

O'Brien will serve five years of supervised release upon release from prison and must pay restitution of $342,504.

O'Brien was found guilty of operating a large-scale prescription drug for money ring out of his Levittown office with members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club. In addition engaging in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, the jury decided he caused a local patient’s death through the illegal distribution of a controlled substance.

According to the indictment filed in 2015, O’Brien prescribed cyclobenzaprine (muscle relaxant), oxycodone, methadone and cyclobenzaprine to a patient or no “legitimate” medical purpose in December 2013.

The person, identified as 38-year-old Joseph Ennis, died as a result of the combined use of these substances, according to authorities.

Ennis had initially sought treatment from O’Brien following a car accident. On December 17, 2013, O’Brien prescribed oxycodone and methadone without a legitimate medical purpose, which combined with the cyclobenzaprine, led to his death, according to information from prosecutors.