A retired physician who owned a pharmacy that unlawfully distributed prescription drugs to Internet customers has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison.

Wilbur D. Hilst, 76, Wewoka, Okla., pleaded guilty in December 2007 to one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances.

In his plea, Hilst admitted that from Nov. 1, 2005, through March 21, 2006, he operated Red Mesa Pharmacy in Wichita. The pharmacy distributed controlled substances to customers who placed orders from two Web sites, Integra Rx and SafeTrustProcessing. The Web sites had contracted with various doctors around the country to approve online orders based upon customers’ answers to questions, but without actually seeing patients or examining them.

After Hilst completes his sentence, he will serve one year on supervised release. He agreed in his plea to forfeit $20,129 seized from his bank accounts. Co-defendants in the case Jerry Lovern and Robert Barron are awaiting sentencing.