WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) - A former Kansas physician was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday after being convicted of selling opioid prescriptions to customers without legitimate medical needs for powerful pain medications. 

 The U.S. Attorney's Office in Kansas says 63-year-old Steven Henson of Wichita pleaded guilty to the following:

  • two counts of conspiracy to dispense, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances
  • eight counts of dispensing and aiding and abetting with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances
  • five counts of dispensing controlled substances
  • six counts of money laundering

A jury previously convicted Henson of one count of making a false writing and one count of attempting to obstruct a court order, which was in relation to drug offenses. 

Hensen was arrested in 2016 and pleaded not guilty to diverting prescription drugs to the streets, resulting in the overdose death of one of his patients. He operated at the Kansas Men's Clinic at 3636 North Ridge Road. 

The Department of Justice says that between July 2014 and August 2015, Henson admits to examining illegitimate pain patients at his clinic in Wichita and writing them prescriptions for oxycodone, methadone and alprazolam in exchange for cash.

"He would typically meet his co-conspirator customers during non-business hours without staff present and charge $300 for the visit," the DOJ said. "These co-conspirator customers told Henson which controlled substances they wanted, and he would oblige with a prescription without conducting examinations, obtaining medical history, or determining if the requested medication was needed. Henson would often prescribe the highest possible strengths and high pill counts."