A South Florida doctor and his medical assistant were arrested this month on charges of illegally distributing prescription medication. The 50-year-old physician, who lives in Parkland, has been accused of supplying methamphetamines to his patients. His assistant has been accused of involving her child in illegal drug transactions.
A six-month-long investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration led to the arrest of the physician, whose practice is in Wilton Manors. He is facing federal charges. According to DEA agents, he dispensed unnecessary prescriptions “to further enhance the patient’s altered state of mind.”
The doctor’s legal problems extend beyond illegal drug distribution. Authorities say that last June, they found and seized about $1.4 million in firearms, cash and records in a pharmacy that he used.
While many people believe that doctors can prescribe whatever medications they choose, that’s no longer the case. Unfortunately, South Florida has become one of the hubs of pain clinics where doctors are illegally prescribing medications. DEA agents say that these clinics are “contributing to the overwhelming prescription drug epidemic in South Florida.”
We have an epidemic of abuse of pain medications in the U.S. Therefore, federal, state and local law enforcement agents and prosecutors have cracked down on those who prescribe and sell these medications without a true medical need for them.
If you are facing charges of illegally prescribing medication, it’s essential to take the charges seriously. Your career, reputation, medical license and freedom may be on the line. Therefore, it’s essential to enlist the assistance of an experienced Florida criminal defense attorney who has defended clients against such charges.