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 procedures in place,” Uch said, and described being overwhelmed after acquiring a care‑home (“bubble pack”) business and adding staff without adequate training or coordinated recordkeeping. Uch said he has worked since 2021 at a Yuba City pharmacy under the supervision of another pharmacist, completed probation‑required ethics training and continuing education, provided quarterly probation reports, and accepted a payment plan for outstanding board costs.

Several supporters spoke on Uch’s behalf. Dr. Ali Tran, a pharmacist who said he has worked with Uch, testified that Uch is a “good pharmacist” and “no threat to the public.” Sotea Ong, director of Stockton nonprofit APSARA (Asian Pacific Self Development and Residential Association), described Uch’s language and cultural role serving the local Cambodian community and urged the committee to consider the community impact if Uch’s license remained restricted.

Jarvis asked that the petition packet (marked Exhibit 1) be admitted with sensitive medical progress notes and a photograph placed under seal; the administrative law judge admitted the packet and issued a protective order sealing pages cited by Jarvis. The judge closed the record at the end of the hearing and said the committee would deliberate in closed session and issue a written decision later. “There won’t be a decision made today orally, but you’ll receive a decision in writing,” the judge said.

The committee and hearing record include multiple quantitative details cited during the accusation: inventory losses and unexplained variances (including 268,628 milliliters of promethazine and thousands of tablets of aripiprazole/Abilify in various strengths), documented transfers and sales among the pharmacies, and a joint board‑cost liability originally listed at $35,000 with Uch reported to have paid approximately $33,000 and $875 remaining. Uch presented proof of continuing education (about 50 hours from December 2022–February 2025), records of employment schedules from September 2021–December 2024, five probation requests reducing supervision from 50% to a daily review, mental‑health progress notes (admitted under seal), and letters of recommendation.

During questioning, committee members pressed Uch on specifics including why self‑assessment documents were altered, how large inventory shortages occurred, and his relationships with co‑owners and family members involved with the other pharmacies. Uch attributed many problems to poor procedures, insufficient oversight of staff, and errors during acquisition and integration of the care‑home business. Jarvis said she was impressed with some elements of the petition but began her closing by noting that, based on the underlying causes for discipline, “quite frankly, petitioner seems too dangerous to be allowed a license at all,” before adding she would defer to the board’s expertise and offered no recommendation.

The committee convened into closed session after testimony and closing statements. The hearing record shows the panel accepted Exhibit 1 with the specified pages sealed and submitted the matter for decision without an oral ruling. The board’s written order will state whether Uch’s probation is terminated early or remains in effect and will list any conditions or outstanding obligations to be satisfied.

The hearing touched on broader compliance and public‑safety issues the board monitors: accuracy and retention of prescription records, secure controlled‑substance ordering procedures (including CSOS/DEA registration), safe labeling and dispensing practices for long‑term care settings, and appropriate documentation of transfers among differently owned pharmacies. Supporters emphasized Uch’s language skills and service to Stockton’s Cambodian community; committee members emphasized recordkeeping, inventory control and supervision as central governance failures in the accusation.

The California State Board of Pharmacy’s Disciplinary Petition Committee will issue a written decision in the coming weeks. The petition record remains the formal basis for that decision, including the sealed mental‑health records and documents admitted under the protective order.