Suspect in Pain Clinic Scheme Arrested in Kennesaw

A Kentucky man who allegedly told Kennesaw authorities that he is paid to drive multiple people to pain clinics in states six hours away is in custody on multiple fraud and drug-related charges.
 
Just after 7:30 a.m. Friday, Kennesaw police pulled over Danny Ray Thompson at Wade Green Road and Interstate 75 after a registration check revealed that he was driving without insurance, according to an arrest warrant. He also had a suspended driver's license.

During a search of a silver 2006 Chevrolet Impala, Kennesaw police found Thompson's wallet and found five identification cards bearing the names of other people, according to the warrant.

Thompson allegedly told police that he had the IDs because he transports them to pain clinics in Atlanta for a fee from time to time. However, at least two of the cards had name and date of birth combinations that did "not produce a Georgia driver's license entry," according to the warrant.

That led Kennesaw police to conclude that "the possession of identification is not for a lawful purpose but for the furtherance of criminally obtaining controlled substances and their distribution," according to the warrant. "The accused and his acquaintance in question live in Kentucky, a state which has a strict prescription drug monitoring program. It is a common practice for individuals to make trips in groups to pain clinics to obtain medication in order to facilitate the distribution of said controlled substances back in their home areas."

Thompson was arrested on 10 charges that range from possession of a controlled substance to possession of another's identification. He is in the Cobb County Adult Detention Center in lieu of $20,000 bond.

A passenger in the vehicle who lied about his name and date of birth was also arrested. Cody J. Stewart of Jackson, Ga., is in custody in lieu of $2,000 bond on charges of possession of marijuana less than one ounce and giving a false name and date of birth.