Guilty plea in Belcourt drug theft

MINOT (AP) — One of four people accused of stealing painkillers from an American Indian hospital in Belcourt says he will plead guilty in federal court.

Jordan Delong is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute hydrocodone. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Authorities said Delong obtained the prescription drugs from Timothy Davis Jr. or Candace Keplin and sold them to others. Davis, a former hospital pharmacy worker, is accused of leading an operation to steal nearly 49,000 pills.

The Belcourt hospital was the basis of a congressional investigation by former Sen. Byron Dorgan.

Davis and Keplin have pleaded guilty and are scheduled for sentencing later this month.

A fourth defendant in the case, John Allery, has pleaded not guilty to one count.

Tags: news, drugs, crime, belcourt