A Caledonia dermatologist, who pleaded guilty to federal drug charges and then turned into an undercover informant for investigators, received a light sentence in federal court Friday after a short hearing, according to a story by the Journal Times.
In 2011, a grand jury charged Dr. Steven L. Armus, 55, of Caledonia; and several others with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine between February 2006 and March 2009. Armus pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, but immediately started working as an undercover informant in return for a lighter sentence.
U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman sentenced Armus on Friday to “a few hours” time for his involvement in the drug ring, but said the offense was serious.
According to the story: “However, ‘prison as a result isn’t needed to provide just punishment. He’s been law-abiding (for) four or five years.’”
Armus, the founder of Great Lakes Dermatology in Mount Pleasant, is no longer part of the practice. The business has since been taken over by other doctors and is name Ascend Dermatology, which he is not affiliated with.