Gosnell will plead guilty to federal drug charges

    Kermit Gosnell, the West Philadelphia doctor convicted of murder for delivering and then killing three babies at his abortion clinic, appears to be ready to plead guilty to federal narcotics charges.

    The FBI first uncovered the horrific details of Gosnell’s abortion clinic as part of a 2011 grand jury investigation into allegations that Gosnell was providing prescriptions for OxyContin and other commonly abused painkillers out of his clinic. Earlier this month, Gosnell, 72, was sentenced to three consecutive life terms on state charges of first-degree murder.

    Peter Vaira, a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, noted that Gosnell has nothing to lose by altering his plea.

    “He’s got complete life sentences, no parole, so what he pleads to over on the federal side doesn’t mean a hill of beans,” Vaira said.

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    Gosnell’s hearing for a change of plea is scheduled for June 6 in federal court in Philadelphia.

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