The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has immediately suspended the license to practice as a pharmacist of Stephen Roger Raber, R.Ph., based on his conviction in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan. Raber failed to report his conviction to MDCH as required by the Public Health Code.

On Oct. 9, 2008, Raber, 47, was convicted of one felony count of Possession of Child Pornography and one felony count of Unlawful Dispensing of a Controlled Substance. As a result, Raber was sentenced to incarceration for a period of 37 months. These convictions were based on Raber possessing images of child pornography on his personal computer and knowingly dispensing more than 2,000 schedule 3 controlled substance tablets without a prescription which included controlled substances for personal use.

On Jan. 26, 2009, MDCH issued an order summarily suspending Raber's license pursuant to the Public Health Code, which provides for the mandatory summary suspension of a health professional's license upon the conviction of a felony, a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for a maximum term of two years, or a controlled substance-related conviction. An administrative hearing will be scheduled to address the status of Raber's license to practice as a pharmacist.

For more information on disciplinary actions taken by the health professional licensing boards within MDCH, please go to http://www.michigan.gov/mdch, and click on Health Systems and Licensing.