"I think it's wrong:" Drug dealing doctor walks free after involvement in cocaine ring

MILWAUKEE -- He was a doctor so addicted to cocaine he offered to be the bank for one of Wisconsin's biggest drug dealers. Four years later, he's finally been sentenced -- but some are calling it a blatant case of special treatment.

Dr. Steven Armus

The other people charged in this cocaine ring have been behind bars for years, but Friday, December 11th, Dr. Steven Armus walks free. No court supervision, no fine, and the judge wishing him the very best of luck.

Dr. Steven Armus used to own Great Lakes Dermatology. That is, until he got caught buying nearly $30,000 worth of cocaine. Sometimes paying for coke with checks dawn on the account of his medical practice.

In September 2011, he pled guilty to serious federal drug charges but never spent any time behind  bars.

Court records show he offered to help federal agents by going undercover.

"The doctor is wired and the doctor is setting up cocaine buys," said Denize Hertz-McGrath, attorney.

Some of the people he set up were his own patients.

"I think it's wrong," said Hertz-McGrath.

That's how he ended up losing his medical license in November.

"I've never seen anything like this and in the research I've done nationally, nothing like this has ever happened before," said Patrick Cafferty, attorney.

He'd help cops catch other drug dealers and in return, a judge might go easy on him. That worked out for him Friday, when he was sentenced to time served.

Federal Courthouse

The unit commander for the Racine County Sheriff's Metro Drug Unit wrote a letter to the judge praising Dr. Armus for helping them catch so-called "bigger fish."

The letter says Armus wasn't a typical drug dealer -- but more of a drug user and a show off. A pleasant guy who just liked to party with his friends. And his cooperation helped Racine police bring charges against eight people.

Dr. Steven Armus

Friday, Judge Lynn Adelman said prison wasn't necessary to provide just punishment. Judge Lynn Adelman said Dr. Armus hadn't just given law enforcement information about drugs, but had also provided tips about healthcare fraud and kickback schemes.

Attorneys for the patients Armus set up say, it's a shameful case of injustice and special treatment for a wealthy doctor.

In two years, Dr. Armus can petition to get his medical license back. He'll have to pay $10,000. His lawyer told the court even though he first started using cocaine in medical school, there is no evidence he's ever endangered patients.

The Racine County Sheriff did not return our requests for comments.