A doctor convicted earlier this year of illegally distributing narcotic drugs out of his Roseboro practice was not sentenced Monday, as originally scheduled.

Dr. Perry Reese III, 49, of Roseboro, was found guilty in February of distributing controlled substances and racketeering activity for writing requested prescriptions to patients “outside the scope of professional practice” in exchange for under-the-counter money. Investigators said Reese illegally distributed narcotic medications through his practice, Roseboro Urgent Care, from April 2002 to April 2003.

Following his conviction, Reese was scheduled to be sentenced June 1. That date has now been continued until Sept. 8, according to Robin Zier, public information officer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Former employees of Reese, Linda McLauren Burney, 46, and her daughter, Marvesa McLaurin were each convicted of perjury in the investigation. They also await sentencing in the case.

Burney worked for two years as a medical assistant at Roseboro Urgent Care and was interviewed by SBI agents following Reese’s arrest in April 2003.

In the interview, Burney stated she had seen Reese accept money for prescriptions he would write and provided names of nine individuals who paid the doctor for a prescription. However, when she testified before a federal grand jury about the interview, she “directly contradicted” those statements. McLaurin was similarly convicted of lying in court.

Reese faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for the charge of distribution of a controlled substance. For the racketeering charge, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 121, or by email at sicrime@myclintonnc.com.