The doctor who prescribed steroids to Chris Benoit, the professional wrestler who killed his wife, son and then himself in June 2007, pleaded guilty Thursday to illegally dispensing drugs.
The plea by Phil Astin III reversed the Carrollton doctor’s original not guilty plea to 175 counts of unlawful drug distribution. Astin could face up to 20 years in prison and $1 million in fines for each count.
Astin admitted that he knew he was violating federal law by illegally writing prescriptions for 19 patients.
Local investigators have said Benoit and his wife were patients of Astin. Prosecutors, however, identified patients only by their initials in the indictment.
Prosecutors say Astin illegally prescribed drugs such as Percocet, Oxycontin, Xanax and Lorcet to professional wrestlers who eventually became addicted to them.
Authorities believe that on June 22, 2007, Chris Benoit killed his wife and his mentally impaired 7-year-old son, then hanged himself.
“This case demonstrates the irreparable damage that can be done when a doctor violates his oath to help others and instead chooses the path of illegal drug dealing,” U.S. Attorney David Nahmias said in a prepared statement.
“We will continue to work hard to ensure that [Astin] receives an appropriate sentence that assures he is never able to harm anyone again,” Nahmias said.
Astin is scheduled to be sentenced May 12.
