California pharmacy committee hears petition by Stockton pharmacist to end probation early

A committee of the California State Board of Pharmacy on May 21 heard testimony from Boonan Bruce Uch, a Stockton pharmacist seeking early termination of a five‑year probation that followed a 2020 accusation alleging extensive violations across multiple pharmacies. The hearing was held in Sacramento and conducted via WebEx; the committee did not issue a decision orally and the administrative law judge said the petitioner would receive a written decision later.

The petition stems from an accusation filed Oct. 12, 2020, and a stipulated settlement and disciplinary order that became effective July 14, 2021, placing Uch on five years of probation. Deputy Attorney General Christina Jarvis summarized the accusation at the hearing, saying the matter involved “failure to comply with nearly every pharmacy law there is” and listing allegations that included falsified dispensing records, unsafe controlled‑substance ordering and accounting, improper transfers and hidden ownership among Anchor Pharmacy, Bruce Pharmacy and Downtown Stockton Pharmacy. Jarvis told the panel that some facts, including large inventory variances and billing discrepancies, “are a strong indicator of billing fraud.”

Uch testified under oath and repeatedly acknowledged responsibility for the business and operations shortcomings the accusation describes. “I take responsibility for not having the proper…