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Abortion doc set to plead guilty to pill-mill charges

Abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell, found guilty this month on murder charges, is expected to plead guilty to running a pill mill.

Dr. Kermit Gosnell gets escorted to a van leaving the Criminal Justice Center after getting convicted on three counts of first degree murder on Monday, May 13, 2013.  ( Yong Kim / Staff Photographer )
Dr. Kermit Gosnell gets escorted to a van leaving the Criminal Justice Center after getting convicted on three counts of first degree murder on Monday, May 13, 2013. ( Yong Kim / Staff Photographer )Read more

ABORTION DOCTOR Kermit Gosnell is expected to plead guilty next week to charges that he operated a pill mill out of his West Philadelphia clinic.

Gosnell, 72 - who was sentenced this month to three life terms for murdering three born-alive babies during illegal late-term abortions - was due to stand trial in federal court for the narcotics-related charges after pleading not guilty last year.

A change-of-plea notice was filed with the U.S. Attorney's Office yesterday. Gosnell is scheduled to formally enter the new plea June 6 in front of U.S. District Court Judge Cynthia M. Rufe.

Gosnell and six of his employees are accused of writing thousands of prescriptions for controlled substances with no legitimate medical purpose between June 2008 and February 2010. According to the indictment, Gosnell made more than $200,000 on the scam.

The fallout from Gosnell's murder trial continues: One co-defendant, his sister-in-law Elizabeth Hampton, was sentenced yesterday to three to 12 months in jail for lying to a grand jury about the 2009 death of 41-year-old Karnamaya Mongar. Hampton received credit for time served and has been released. She must also serve one year of probation.

Several other co-defendants, including Gosnell's wife, Pearl, are scheduled to be sentenced today after pleading guilty. Many of them testified against Gosnell during his trial.