Ex-co-owner of closed medical testing company gets extra prison time for evading justice

Richard Reid, the former co-owner of a medical testing company that is no longer in operation, has been dealt a further blow in the legal system. The Department of Justice revealed that he has been given an extra six months in prison for his failure to comply with reporting instructions. This development comes after his initial two-year sentence in January 2023 for participating in an illegal kickback scheme within the medical testing industry.

The sentencing took place in Seattle, overseen by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour. The judge did not mince words in expressing his incredulity at Reid's persistent refusal to acknowledge his wrongdoing. Judge Coughenour stated, "Reid's persistent failure to accept responsibility takes my breath away." This strong stance from the judge reflects the gravity of Reid's actions and the impact they have had.

Escalation of Events

Reid's disregard for the legal repercussions of his actions was further demonstrated when he failed to report for his prison term by the specified date in April 2023. Instead, he absconded from his residence in Astoria, Oregon, prompting the FBI to issue a warrant for his arrest. After weeks on the run, he was finally apprehended in Taylorsville, Oregon, following a tip-off from a member of the public. This arrest marked the end of a multi-day pursuit by law enforcement authorities.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Dion advocated for an even harsher sentence, pushing for an additional ten months of imprisonment. He emphasized not only Reid's failure to acknowledge his actions but also the substantial resources that were expended in locating and apprehending him. Reid's involvement in the kickback scheme, which involved directing urine drug test specimens to specific labs for government billing, resulted in illicit gains of over $3.7 million for the Bellevue-based Northwest Physicians Laboratory.