Paducah Man Gets 20 Years for Selling Rx Blanks

A Paducah man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, after a jury found him guilty of selling forged prescription pads.

37-year-old Derek C. Early was indicted by a McCracken County grand jury on five counts of trafficking in prescription blanks for controlled substances. He was also charged with being a persistent felony offender.

Paducah Police investigators said an acquaintance of Early was forging blank prescription pads from her employer, and Early was selling the completed blanks.

McCracken County Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Raymond McGee offered Early a plea deal, which he turned down. The deal would have carried a 10-year sentence.

A jury heard the case Monday in Judge Craig Clymer’s courtroom. They convicted Early on all counts, and recommended a five-year sentence on each of the prescription-related offenses, and a 20-year sentence on the first-degree persistent felony offender charge.