CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – A veterinarian from Putnam County was ordered to pay more than $950,000 for nearly 10,000 dosage units of oxycodone and other controlled substances that were unaccounted for, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Clara Ann Mason, who’s from Winfield, was ordered to pay the maximum civil penalty ($956,709) in the case. Investigators said 9,796 doses of controlled substances, including hydrocodone/acetaminophen, had not been properly tracked.
“The Court found that Mason ordered thousands of doses of opioids and other drugs, failed to keep these drugs secured, failed to keep track of these drugs, and apparently fabricated records to cover her failures,” the release said.
The release went on to say, “according to court documents, between March 8, 2018, and July 10, 2023, Mason ordered 14,200 dosage units of hydrocodone/acetaminophen at 10/325 milligrams each, 800 dosage units of oxycodone HCL at 10 milligrams each, and 600 dosage units of oxycodone HCL at 5 milligrams each from a veterinary pharmaceutical wholesale supplier.”
Investigators said for the years 2021, 2022 and 2023, that Mason ordered more hydrocodone/acetaminophen from the supplier than any other individual customer.
They said after a search in October of 2023 that controlled substances were found “unsecured in numerous locations throughout the property” and that Mason voluntarily surrendered her DEA registration number during execution of the search warrant.
The release stated, “Mason provided purported records alleging she dispensed large quantities of opioids to dogs and cats prior to euthanasia. Investigators believe these documents were largely fabricated. Investigators also interviewed several pet owners, and none said they witnessed Mason administering oral medications to their pets.”
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