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Colleague of ex-Steelers doctor pleads not guilty to drug charges
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William Zipf, accused of conspiring with prominent Downtown physician Richard A. Rydze to improperly distribute prescription pain medication, pleaded not guilty at an arraignment today in U.S. District Court.
Mr. Zipf, 57, formerly of Pittsburgh, is around four months into a 37-month federal sentence for conspiring to distribute cocaine, which he is serving in a prison in Morgantown. Because of that, his court-appointed attorney, Patrick Thomassey, waived his right to a detention hearing in the new case, meaning he will remain in custody pending trial.
Mr. Zipf faces one count of conspiracy to distribute the narcotics, and 31 related counts of healthcare fraud -- all part of the 185-count indictment focused primarily on Dr. Rydze. Dr. Rydze served as one of the Steelers' physicians for two decades until 2007.
First Published November 13, 2012 2:59 pm
