Former Des Moines dentist sentenced to prison for obtaining painkillers via his patients

A former Des Moines dentist who obtained painkillers through his patients was sentenced to prison on Friday, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Shawn Michael Kerby, 39, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for obtaining hydrocodone by misrepresentation and being a user and addict of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm.

Kerby, who practiced dentistry through two clinics, Kerby Family Dentistry and Bright Smiles Family Dental, used his practice to prescribe hydrocodone, an addictive opiate painkiller, to patients who didn't need the drug. He then would have the patients return the pills to him once they were filled at a local pharmacy.

On Dec. 1, 2015, law enforcement executed search warrants at Kerby’s home and dental practices. They found he was in possession of a Beretta handgun, a Heckler & Koch handgun, a Smith & Wesson snub-nose .38 caliber revolver, a Browning Arms shotgun, two Benelli shotguns and a Herington/Richardson shotgun.

The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.