[1] Belot presided over the trial of Stephen and Linda Schneider, charged with illegally distributing prescription painkillers.
[2] In that capacity, he threw out all but 4 of the 56 alleged patient overdose deaths Assistant United States Attorney Tanya Treadway attempted to link to the Schneiders, "sternly warned Treadway not to appeal his decision [and] also instructed the government not to use inflammatory descriptions like 'pill mill' in front of the jury.
"[3] Belot also denied federal prosecutor Tanya Treadway's request for a gag order on Pain Relief Network founder and pain relief advocate Siobhan Reynolds, as well as her request for a change of venue.
[4] However, by the time Belot sentenced the Schneiders to 30 years in prison in October 2010,[2] "he was so irritated by Reynolds' advocacy on behalf of the couple that he could not contain himself.
'"[2] Journalist Jacob Sullum referred to these statements as "an extraordinary tirade against Reynolds and PRN, neither of which was a party to the case," adding: Is Belot really saying that one function of the heavy sentences imposed on the Schneiders is to deter Reynolds and like-minded activists from speaking out against such prosecutions in the future?