Lowell Veteran Sentenced For Selling Drugs

BOSTON (AP) — A Lowell man is the last of six military veterans sentenced for distributing drugs at the Department of Veteran Affairs' Medical Center in Bedford, whose services include treatment of drug and alcohol abuse as well as addiction rehabilitation services.

A federal judge in Boston on Friday sentenced 50-year-old Steven Jakaitis to 15 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

In July, Jakaitis pleaded guilty to distribution of Buprenorphine, which is used to treat drug abuse, and conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.

Others convicted include 52-year-old David DeJesus and 50-year-old Scott Houtchens of Lowell; 53-year-old David Robson of Tewksbury and 52-year-old Allen Nickerson of Dorchester. They were all sentenced to probation.

In some cases, the veterans were selling drugs that had been prescribed and provided to them at the Medical Center.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.