Riverbird, LLC, a mental health clinic based in Portland, Maine, and its providers Matthew Stevens, DO, and Selma Holden, MD, have agreed to pay $20,000 to settle claims that they violated civil provisions of the Controlled Substances Act. The case centers on allegations of reporting and recordkeeping violations related to controlled substances.
The settlement follows a November 2024 audit by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) diversion investigators. According to the allegations, Riverbird practitioners were aware of drug diversion committed by Dr. Stevens but did not report the theft to the DEA. Investigators also found that the clinic failed to take an initial inventory of controlled substances after a change in ownership and did not maintain complete and accurate records regarding controlled substances in their possession.
Additionally, practitioners admitted that lorazepam—a Schedule IV controlled substance—was disposed of without completing the required DEA documentation; instead, only a handwritten note was kept as a record.
“DEA registrants are responsible for handling controlled substances responsibly and ensuring that complete and accurate records are being properly kept and accounted for in compliance with the Controlled Substance Act,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the New England Field Division. “Failure to do so increases the potential for diversion and jeopardizes public health and public safety. We are committed to working with our law enforcement and regulatory partners to ensure that these rules and regulations are followed.”
U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Benson stated: “Maintaining complete and accurate records is a baseline obligation of all DEA registrants, required to prevent controlled substances from being diverted from the legitimate drug supply. Investigations such as this—where investigators discovered undisclosed instances of actual drug diversion—reinforce the need to timely record and report such instances to the DEA.”
As part of resolving these claims—which remain allegations without any determination of liability—Riverbird and its providers have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the DEA aimed at further ensuring compliance with laws governing controlled substances. The clinic cooperated throughout the investigation.
