NIH researcher is ordered to forfeit Pfizer payments - LATimes 12-23-06

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Thanks to Gene for pointing out our American Elitism system of justice....

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-nih23dec23,1,2836825,pri\

nt.story?coll=la-news-a_section

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Los Angeles Times Page A22

NIH researcher is ordered to forfeit Pfizer payments

The scientist, who pleaded guilty to conflict of interest, gets two years'

probation and community service.

By Willman

Times Staff Writer

December 23, 2006

BALTIMORE — A federal judge on Friday spared a convicted National Institutes

of Health researcher, Dr. P. Trey Sunderland III, any prison time but

ordered him to hand over $300,000 in illicit payments he took from a major

drug company.

U.S. District Judge J. Frederic Motz also sentenced Sunderland to two years

of supervised probation and 400 hours of community service.

" Obviously, this was unacceptable conduct, " Motz said.

Sunderland had pleaded guilty Dec. 8 to a criminal conflict of interest

related to his payments from Pfizer Inc. The sentence matchd a plea

agreement in November between prosecutors and Sunderland's lawyers.

Sunderland took Pfizer's money from 1998 to 2003 while he collaborated with

the company in his official federal role as a researcher of Alzheimer's

disease.

Under the government-Pfizer collaboration, Sunderland's NIH staff drew

spinal fluid from hundreds of volunteers and turned over the samples to

Pfizer. The drug company analyzed the samples for genetic clues that might

help develop a treatment for Alzheimer's, a debilitating and fatal malady.

NIH officials approved the scientific work.

But at the same time, Sunderland was collecting consulting fees from Pfizer

related to the project and had not sought permission for such an

arrangement, as required by NIH rules. He also did not report the income on

his annual financial disclosure forms. At one point he told an internal

ethics official that he had no interests outside the government.

NIH officials have said that if Sunderland had asked to moonlight for

Pfizer, the request probably would have been denied because the activity

overlapped with his official duties.

" It is illegal for any federal employee to make an official decision that

directly affects their financial interest, unless they … get approval from

the government, " said U.S. Atty. Rod J. Rosenstein.

Sunderland told Motz on Friday that he took " responsibility for these

deeds. " Glancing at prepared notes, Sunderland said that when he

reconstructed in his mind the events that led to a criminal conviction, " I

don't have an explanation. "

" This process has humbled me in a way that I have never experienced before, "

he said. He added, his voice faltering, " This has been the most difficult

thing I've ever had to do. "

An assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted the case, J. e, said

that Sunderland's guilty plea, to one misdemeanor count, would serve as a

" deterrent to future such conduct in the federal government. "

Some volunteers in the government-Pfizer project said they considered

Sunderland's punishment too lenient.

" I don't consider this sentence to be much more than a slap on the wrist, "

said W. , a retired federal lawyer who volunteered in the NIH

research from 2001 to 2004. " I don't consider it much of a deterrent to

people of his mind-set at NIH. "

In August, after learning of Sunderland's payments from Pfizer,

formally asked the NIH to return his samples. He had allowed the spinal

fluid to be drawn, he said, because his father had died with Alzheimer's and

he wanted to help.

Sunderland's payments from Pfizer and other drug companies came to light

after the Los Angeles Times reported in December 2003 that companies had

made hundreds of payments of consulting fees and stock to senior NIH

researchers. The reporting triggered a congressional inquiry.

Last year, the director of the NIH, Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni, announced that

company consulting fees and stock payments would be banned.

Motz said he would allow Sunderland up to 18 months to pay the government

the entire $300,000, with no interest charged.

Sunderland had told authorities before the sentencing that he intended to

perform his community service with retired veterans at the U.S. Soldiers &

Airmen Home in Washington.

Sunderland until earlier this year had headed the NIH's geriatric psychiatry

branch. The unit is now disbanded, but as of Friday he remained on the

federal payroll, the NIH said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

david.willman@...

Copyright 2006 Los Angeles Times

-------------------------------------------------

Gene Burke

SMSDW

[Guest guest]

Thanks to Gene for pointing out our American Elitism system of justice....

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-nih23dec23,1,2836825,pri\

nt.story?coll=la-news-a_section

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Los Angeles Times Page A22

NIH researcher is ordered to forfeit Pfizer payments

The scientist, who pleaded guilty to conflict of interest, gets two years'

probation and community service.

By Willman

Times Staff Writer

December 23, 2006

BALTIMORE — A federal judge on Friday spared a convicted National Institutes

of Health researcher, Dr. P. Trey Sunderland III, any prison time but

ordered him to hand over $300,000 in illicit payments he took from a major

drug company.

U.S. District Judge J. Frederic Motz also sentenced Sunderland to two years

of supervised probation and 400 hours of community service.

" Obviously, this was unacceptable conduct, " Motz said.

Sunderland had pleaded guilty Dec. 8 to a criminal conflict of interest

related to his payments from Pfizer Inc. The sentence matchd a plea

agreement in November between prosecutors and Sunderland's lawyers.

Sunderland took Pfizer's money from 1998 to 2003 while he collaborated with

the company in his official federal role as a researcher of Alzheimer's

disease.

Under the government-Pfizer collaboration, Sunderland's NIH staff drew

spinal fluid from hundreds of volunteers and turned over the samples to

Pfizer. The drug company analyzed the samples for genetic clues that might

help develop a treatment for Alzheimer's, a debilitating and fatal malady.

NIH officials approved the scientific work.

But at the same time, Sunderland was collecting consulting fees from Pfizer

related to the project and had not sought permission for such an

arrangement, as required by NIH rules. He also did not report the income on

his annual financial disclosure forms. At one point he told an internal

ethics official that he had no interests outside the government.

NIH officials have said that if Sunderland had asked to moonlight for

Pfizer, the request probably would have been denied because the activity

overlapped with his official duties.

" It is illegal for any federal employee to make an official decision that

directly affects their financial interest, unless they … get approval from

the government, " said U.S. Atty. Rod J. Rosenstein.

Sunderland told Motz on Friday that he took " responsibility for these

deeds. " Glancing at prepared notes, Sunderland said that when he

reconstructed in his mind the events that led to a criminal conviction, " I

don't have an explanation. "

" This process has humbled me in a way that I have never experienced before, "

he said. He added, his voice faltering, " This has been the most difficult

thing I've ever had to do. "

An assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted the case, J. e, said

that Sunderland's guilty plea, to one misdemeanor count, would serve as a

" deterrent to future such conduct in the federal government. "

Some volunteers in the government-Pfizer project said they considered

Sunderland's punishment too lenient.

" I don't consider this sentence to be much more than a slap on the wrist, "

said W. , a retired federal lawyer who volunteered in the NIH

research from 2001 to 2004. " I don't consider it much of a deterrent to

people of his mind-set at NIH. "

In August, after learning of Sunderland's payments from Pfizer,

formally asked the NIH to return his samples. He had allowed the spinal

fluid to be drawn, he said, because his father had died with Alzheimer's and

he wanted to help.

Sunderland's payments from Pfizer and other drug companies came to light

after the Los Angeles Times reported in December 2003 that companies had

made hundreds of payments of consulting fees and stock to senior NIH

researchers. The reporting triggered a congressional inquiry.

Last year, the director of the NIH, Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni, announced that

company consulting fees and stock payments would be banned.

Motz said he would allow Sunderland up to 18 months to pay the government

the entire $300,000, with no interest charged.

Sunderland had told authorities before the sentencing that he intended to

perform his community service with retired veterans at the U.S. Soldiers &

Airmen Home in Washington.

Sunderland until earlier this year had headed the NIH's geriatric psychiatry

branch. The unit is now disbanded, but as of Friday he remained on the

federal payroll, the NIH said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

david.willman@...

Copyright 2006 Los Angeles Times

-------------------------------------------------

Gene Burke

SMSDW

[Guest guest]

Thanks to Gene for pointing out our American Elitism system of justice....

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-nih23dec23,1,2836825,pri\

nt.story?coll=la-news-a_section

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Los Angeles Times Page A22

NIH researcher is ordered to forfeit Pfizer payments

The scientist, who pleaded guilty to conflict of interest, gets two years'

probation and community service.

By Willman

Times Staff Writer

December 23, 2006

BALTIMORE — A federal judge on Friday spared a convicted National Institutes

of Health researcher, Dr. P. Trey Sunderland III, any prison time but

ordered him to hand over $300,000 in illicit payments he took from a major

drug company.

U.S. District Judge J. Frederic Motz also sentenced Sunderland to two years

of supervised probation and 400 hours of community service.

" Obviously, this was unacceptable conduct, " Motz said.

Sunderland had pleaded guilty Dec. 8 to a criminal conflict of interest

related to his payments from Pfizer Inc. The sentence matchd a plea

agreement in November between prosecutors and Sunderland's lawyers.

Sunderland took Pfizer's money from 1998 to 2003 while he collaborated with

the company in his official federal role as a researcher of Alzheimer's

disease.

Under the government-Pfizer collaboration, Sunderland's NIH staff drew

spinal fluid from hundreds of volunteers and turned over the samples to

Pfizer. The drug company analyzed the samples for genetic clues that might

help develop a treatment for Alzheimer's, a debilitating and fatal malady.

NIH officials approved the scientific work.

But at the same time, Sunderland was collecting consulting fees from Pfizer

related to the project and had not sought permission for such an

arrangement, as required by NIH rules. He also did not report the income on

his annual financial disclosure forms. At one point he told an internal

ethics official that he had no interests outside the government.

NIH officials have said that if Sunderland had asked to moonlight for

Pfizer, the request probably would have been denied because the activity

overlapped with his official duties.

" It is illegal for any federal employee to make an official decision that

directly affects their financial interest, unless they … get approval from

the government, " said U.S. Atty. Rod J. Rosenstein.

Sunderland told Motz on Friday that he took " responsibility for these

deeds. " Glancing at prepared notes, Sunderland said that when he

reconstructed in his mind the events that led to a criminal conviction, " I

don't have an explanation. "

" This process has humbled me in a way that I have never experienced before, "

he said. He added, his voice faltering, " This has been the most difficult

thing I've ever had to do. "

An assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted the case, J. e, said

that Sunderland's guilty plea, to one misdemeanor count, would serve as a

" deterrent to future such conduct in the federal government. "

Some volunteers in the government-Pfizer project said they considered

Sunderland's punishment too lenient.

" I don't consider this sentence to be much more than a slap on the wrist, "

said W. , a retired federal lawyer who volunteered in the NIH

research from 2001 to 2004. " I don't consider it much of a deterrent to

people of his mind-set at NIH. "

In August, after learning of Sunderland's payments from Pfizer,

formally asked the NIH to return his samples. He had allowed the spinal

fluid to be drawn, he said, because his father had died with Alzheimer's and

he wanted to help.

Sunderland's payments from Pfizer and other drug companies came to light

after the Los Angeles Times reported in December 2003 that companies had

made hundreds of payments of consulting fees and stock to senior NIH

researchers. The reporting triggered a congressional inquiry.

Last year, the director of the NIH, Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni, announced that

company consulting fees and stock payments would be banned.

Motz said he would allow Sunderland up to 18 months to pay the government

the entire $300,000, with no interest charged.

Sunderland had told authorities before the sentencing that he intended to

perform his community service with retired veterans at the U.S. Soldiers &

Airmen Home in Washington.

Sunderland until earlier this year had headed the NIH's geriatric psychiatry

branch. The unit is now disbanded, but as of Friday he remained on the

federal payroll, the NIH said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

david.willman@...

Copyright 2006 Los Angeles Times

-------------------------------------------------

Gene Burke

SMSDW

[Guest guest]

Thanks to Gene for pointing out our American Elitism system of justice....

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-nih23dec23,1,2836825,pri\

nt.story?coll=la-news-a_section

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Los Angeles Times Page A22

NIH researcher is ordered to forfeit Pfizer payments

The scientist, who pleaded guilty to conflict of interest, gets two years'

probation and community service.

By Willman

Times Staff Writer

December 23, 2006

BALTIMORE — A federal judge on Friday spared a convicted National Institutes

of Health researcher, Dr. P. Trey Sunderland III, any prison time but

ordered him to hand over $300,000 in illicit payments he took from a major

drug company.

U.S. District Judge J. Frederic Motz also sentenced Sunderland to two years

of supervised probation and 400 hours of community service.

" Obviously, this was unacceptable conduct, " Motz said.

Sunderland had pleaded guilty Dec. 8 to a criminal conflict of interest

related to his payments from Pfizer Inc. The sentence matchd a plea

agreement in November between prosecutors and Sunderland's lawyers.

Sunderland took Pfizer's money from 1998 to 2003 while he collaborated with

the company in his official federal role as a researcher of Alzheimer's

disease.

Under the government-Pfizer collaboration, Sunderland's NIH staff drew

spinal fluid from hundreds of volunteers and turned over the samples to

Pfizer. The drug company analyzed the samples for genetic clues that might

help develop a treatment for Alzheimer's, a debilitating and fatal malady.

NIH officials approved the scientific work.

But at the same time, Sunderland was collecting consulting fees from Pfizer

related to the project and had not sought permission for such an

arrangement, as required by NIH rules. He also did not report the income on

his annual financial disclosure forms. At one point he told an internal

ethics official that he had no interests outside the government.

NIH officials have said that if Sunderland had asked to moonlight for

Pfizer, the request probably would have been denied because the activity

overlapped with his official duties.

" It is illegal for any federal employee to make an official decision that

directly affects their financial interest, unless they … get approval from

the government, " said U.S. Atty. Rod J. Rosenstein.

Sunderland told Motz on Friday that he took " responsibility for these

deeds. " Glancing at prepared notes, Sunderland said that when he

reconstructed in his mind the events that led to a criminal conviction, " I

don't have an explanation. "

" This process has humbled me in a way that I have never experienced before, "

he said. He added, his voice faltering, " This has been the most difficult

thing I've ever had to do. "

An assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted the case, J. e, said

that Sunderland's guilty plea, to one misdemeanor count, would serve as a

" deterrent to future such conduct in the federal government. "

Some volunteers in the government-Pfizer project said they considered

Sunderland's punishment too lenient.

" I don't consider this sentence to be much more than a slap on the wrist, "

said W. , a retired federal lawyer who volunteered in the NIH

research from 2001 to 2004. " I don't consider it much of a deterrent to

people of his mind-set at NIH. "

In August, after learning of Sunderland's payments from Pfizer,

formally asked the NIH to return his samples. He had allowed the spinal

fluid to be drawn, he said, because his father had died with Alzheimer's and

he wanted to help.

Sunderland's payments from Pfizer and other drug companies came to light

after the Los Angeles Times reported in December 2003 that companies had

made hundreds of payments of consulting fees and stock to senior NIH

researchers. The reporting triggered a congressional inquiry.

Last year, the director of the NIH, Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni, announced that

company consulting fees and stock payments would be banned.

Motz said he would allow Sunderland up to 18 months to pay the government

the entire $300,000, with no interest charged.

Sunderland had told authorities before the sentencing that he intended to

perform his community service with retired veterans at the U.S. Soldiers &

Airmen Home in Washington.

Sunderland until earlier this year had headed the NIH's geriatric psychiatry

branch. The unit is now disbanded, but as of Friday he remained on the

federal payroll, the NIH said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

david.willman@...

Copyright 2006 Los Angeles Times

-------------------------------------------------

Gene Burke

SMSDW