Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A Rochester dentist was sentenced to 15 years in prison Wednesday, for stealing fentanyl from his patients and performing surgeries without adequate pain management. Phillip M. Jensen, 64, was also fined $200,000 and ordered to repay the government for the costs for the expert witness it had to hire.

Jensen, who practiced oral and maxillofacial surgery before losing his license in 2022, pleaded guilty in August to multiple charges, including drug diversion and tampering with consumer products. Starting in December 2019, he stole fentanyl by siphoning at least half of the drug from single-use vials, replacing it with saline, and resealing the vials.

Court records show his actions left more than 99 patients in severe pain during surgeries. Some victims described waking up mid-procedure or experiencing surgeries without proper anesthesia. In one case, Jensen struck a patient in the head with an instrument after realizing she was awake, then continued the surgery without pain relief.

Jensen falsified surgical records to cover his thefts, claiming he had administered full doses of fentanyl. He also billed insurance providers using the fraudulent records. He is estimated to have stolen more than 40 grams of fentanyl for personal use.

During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless emphasized the betrayal of trust involved, noting Jensen’s profit-driven actions and the harm inflicted on his patients. The judge rejected his comparisons to a drug dealer, stating that unlike dealers, Jensen’s victims were unaware and unable to consent.

Jensen’s crimes came to light when his staff noticed patients showing signs of pain during surgeries. A federal grand jury indicted him in 2022 on 20 felony counts. He was later detained for violating bond conditions by stalking a witness.