Prosecutors say his bail should be revoked.
The man who fancies himself as the “Rock Doc” is seemingly unfazed by the recent federal indictment against him. Since his release in April pending trial, prosecutors say that Jeff Young, a nurse practitioner based in Jackson, Tennessee, is still open for business. Now, they are trying to have his bond revoked.
In April, Young was one of 60 medical professionals—doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and more—charged with illegal prescribing of controlled substances.
According to the indictment filed by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, “Young issued prescriptions for controlled substances, including the Schedule II controlled substances Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, and others, and the Schedule IV controlled substances Alprazolam, Diazepam, Clonazepam, and others… outside the course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. Young’s motives in prescribing controlled substances to his patients were often to obtain money, notoriety, and sexual favors.”
The Rock Doc—“a brash, tattooed 45-year-old” as the Daily Beast described him—abused his position to promote himself and prey on women, the indictment alleges. “Young used his power to prescribe controlled substances to promote his television pilot and his podcast, and to have sex with women, including women who were his patients.”
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
A 10-minute pilot of a reality show about his practice from 2016 is still available to watch on YouTube. Apparently it never took off.
Following the indictment, all 60 defendants were released on bond. But Young has continued to write prescriptions haphazardly. Federal authorities say he should be detained.
While Young is no longer permitted to prescribe opioid drugs, he can still prescribe benzodiazepines like Xanax or Valium, per a 2018 settlement with the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Young has allegedly continued to prescribe these to patients who have been “doctor shopping.”
Andrew Pennebaker, the Department of Justice trial attorney prosecuting Young, says the Rock Doc’s continued prescribing activity requires special attention. “The Court should do what the Board did not: stop Young from further harming the community by prescribing dangerous substances and exploiting his patients in the process. The only way to ensure this is to detain Young pending trial.”
Pennebaker cites a history of violence that makes Young a special case. “Even among other defendants presumed to be dangerous, Young stands out: he has demonstrated a history of violence against women, intimidation and threats, and disregard of judicial and administrative orders.”
