Alabama Psychiatrist James H. Edwards, Indicted on Illegal Prescriptions, Facing 87 Additional Counts

February 28, 2020

A Fairhope psychiatrist indicted last year for allegedly writing illegal prescriptions is now facing 87 federal counts of distribution of a controlled substance, according to a superceding indictment against the doctor.

The superceding indictment, which replaces the three-count federal indictment against Dr. James Henry Edwards III that was filed in July, was submitted last week by federal prosecutors in Montgomery.

Edwards, who was 72 at the time of the first indictment, had practices in Fairhope and Opelika. The superceding indictment alleges he prescribed several controlled substances, including opioids, from January 2011 to July 2019.

The prescriptions were given “outside the usual course of professional medical practice and for no legitimate medical purpose, unlawfully, and for non-medical reasons,” according to the latest indictment.

According to court records filed Tuesday, Edwards’ trial is scheduled to be continued July 13.

Source: Indicted Fairhope psychiatrist facing 87 new federal drug charges,” AL.com, February 25, 2020. URL: https://www.al.com/news/mobile/2020/02/indicted-fairhope-psychiatrist-facing-87-new-federal-drug-charges.html