Investigators charge 13 doctors in pill mill crimes — and one with murder

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Miami Herald

Posted on Wednesday, 08.24.11
Investigators charge 13 doctors in pill mill crimes — and one with murder


Operation Oxy Alley resulted in charges against 32 people involved with pill mills in Palm Beach and Broward counties while Palm Beach County brought murder charges against a doctor

BY AUDRA D.S. BURCH and SCOTT HIAASEN
[e-mail]

For the first time in Florida’s war on prescription drug abuse, investigators are pursuing pill mills as organized crime enterprises — and corrupt doctors as murderers.

After a three-year investigation, federal authorities announced the details of Operation Oxy Alley, a sweeping indictment charging 32 people under racketeering statutes for their involvement in South Florida-based pill mills that doled out 20 million oxycodone pills and profited more than $40 million dollars from illegal sales of controlled substances. In a companion indictment, local authorities charged a doctor with first-degree murder in the death of a West Palm Beach man who died within hours of filling a prescription for a painkiller.

“As a result of today’s takedown, we have dismantled the nation’s largest criminal organization that was illegally distributing pain killers and steroids,’’ said FBI Special Agent in Charge John V. Gillies. “This is the first time doctors, pharmacies, and a pharmaceutical supplier have been indicted for their involvement. Up until now, efforts focused on the demand by targeting individual users. Today, we attacked the source and choked off the supply.’’

Operation Oxy Alley targeted owners, 13 doctors and operators of the nation’s four largest pain clinics — all in Broward and Palm Beach counties — as well as two pharmacies, one pharmaceutical supplier and one internet-based steroid business. The defendants, aged 25 to 76, were charged with crimes including racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. “This is the first time we have used the (racketeering) statutes for a case of this magnitude, going after oxycodone pushers,’’ said Wifredo A. Ferrer U.S. Attorney for the Southern District. “This is used more traditionally against the mafia but we see this as a criminal enterprise.’’

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/23/2371284/federal-authorities-announce-south.html

[Webster Green]

1. They are really ramping up the "war on drugs".

What a waste of money.

Legalize!

[provis99]

3. dude, these are prescription pills. They're already legal.

[Webster Green]

23. Why are they arresting people then.

That makes no sense.

See my other reply below if you want to know what I'm talking about.

Harm reduction = legalization.

[provis99]

24. then legalization makes no sense, does it?

People will continue to be arrested anyways, so legalization doesn't solve the problem at all!

[Webster Green]

25. Huh?

It isn't legal to go doctor-shopping to gather up scripts for oxycontins and then go sell them on the street.

People who are buying oxycodone have an affinity for opiates. (They make you feel good).

If opiates were legal, the black market for prescription pain killers would disappear. If you could go buy a little ball of opium, or even a controlled (therefore safer) dose of heroin, you wouldn't want to spend $40 for an oxycontin.

It's called harm reduction, and it works. See Portugal for an example. Read about it in Scientific American, if you don't believe me:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=portugal-drug-decriminalization

[provis99]

28. Portugal ain't America. they've never had a problem with drugs.

if you legalize pot, crack, and LSD the way that prescriptions are legalized, then we will just be extending the same problem: instead of doctor shopping for oxycontin, there will be doctor shopping for pot, crack, and LSD.

So that is obviously not going to work.

And if you are arguing to legalize drugs into the wide open, without need of prescriptions, then you will have to do the same with all current prescription drugs, and then we will see some massive manipulation of drug compounds by drug corporations for an addicted market.

The naivety of the legalize crowds astounds me. They seem to think that legalization means you will be able to grow a little pot plant in your yards. that's just plain silly. It will be regulated at least the same way that tobacco is; you can't grow tobacco in your own yard unless you're a licensed farmer. And look how the tobacco companies have manipulated tobacco throughout the years to increase its addictiveness and lethality.

You really think the drug companies won't do that with something as potent as opiates or artificial compounds like Ecstasy?

[Webster Green]

29. I disagree.

Prohibition is not working, and never will. I will always have my pot patch regardless of what the law says.

As for LSD, not only should it be legal. It should be highly recommended that everyone try it at least once. Oh, the world would be a much better place.

[provis99]

30. yes, look how well legalizing tobacco has done.

100 million dead in the 20th Century from tobacco legalization.
http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20080207/1-billion-tobacco-deaths-this-century

Just wait until the corporations get their hands on LSD, and are able to manipulate it chemically. It will make crack and heroin look like baby food.

[Webster Green]

31. Bwahahaha!

Wut?

Tobacco is toxic. LSD is not.

You're theory about manipulating it somehow to make it dangerous is just weird. The amount ingested is so tiny as to be undetectable, but it triggers a profound reaction in the brain. Can't imagine what you think they would try to change modify it.

[provis99]

35. well golly, you don't think corporations would try and make it addictive?

You have remarkable faith in corporations. And if you don't think cocaine, heroin, opium, angel dust, bug juice, or even gas fumes and airplane glue are toxic, then dude, you are too spaced out to reason with.

[Webster Green]

38. Very uninformed thinking.

Life on this planet is toxic and dangerous, my friend. Anyway, I was talking about LSD, not the other stuff you mentioned. As to the others, the danger varies. Opiates are actually not that big of a deal in terms of toxicity. You need to know the dosage you are taking, and if you do become addicted, it's kind of a bummer if you run out. Other than that, they aren't nearly as bad as your government would have you believe. I've grown poppies, then just cut the entire plant and made tea from it. It's quite tasty, and feels wonderful. It's stupid to make flowers illegal. Nobody has the right to declare flowers illegal.

[provis99]

43. again, you are not paying attention.

When corporations are allowed to manipulate this stuff, it will BECOME far more dangerous than it already is. LSD is a synthetic chemical based off of a rye disease called ergot, which is highly dangerous and poisonous; when corporations start manipulating the chemistry of LSD, is will be far more physically and psychologically addictive than it is now, because like tobacco corporations, they will depend on a ready supply of addicts who will pay anything to get their fix. If the concoction they come up with winds up poisoning people like ergot does, so be it, as long as they get their addicts.

And that blather about life being toxic is just pathetic. Hell, with that attitude, you might as well argue in favor of everybody playing Russian roulette, because after all, "life is toxic!"

[Webster Green]

48. Good grief.

I know what LSD and ergot are all about. I've collected ergot from wild rye grass here in CA. Your theory about corporations trying to make it addictive are beyond absurd.

This is a just a ridiculous conversation.

You tell me I'm not paying attention. I know more about this stuff than you will ever know. I'm sure not paying attention to anything you have to say.

No intense offended. :eyes:

[LanternWaste]

37. Oh my goodness...

"It should be highly recommended that everyone try it at least once..."

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Oh my goodness!!! That is absolutely the silliest, most absurd thing I've read this month...!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:


Seriously, thank you for that! Bless your little heart...

[Webster Green]

39. You've obviously never tried psychedelics.

Too bad for you.

BTW, you've been lied to. :hippie:

[era veteran]

32. We have Eastern Kentucky dying for these drugs and they

are already quasi-legal in that they are dealing with impunity from prosecution. When our State Police don their penis extending Army Regalia to mount up in Hueys to stop the marijuana growers the real problem flourishes. Now in the Bluegrass, the oasis of semi-progressivism, we have this problem. My street, which is older middle class has had an increase in rental houses and one of our new 'neighbors' is operating a pill house. A week ago today they had more business than Wall Mart on Black Thursday. I have called our narcotics task force 6 days ago to talk and give them information and to ask for advice but still haven't had a return phone call. My new councilperson has not answered two emails. We dealt with these people in December when our house broken into and about $6000.00 in losses. No help then and thought the police work slow and ineffective. We can suffer that but we will NEVER get back the peace and security that we felt in our home. I have had two boys on and finally off this shit but we are lucky. They are never going to legalize opiates and opiate like pills so ANY street sales will always be illegal.
In 1973 all 3 of my mates in a barracks in Germany were shooting skag in the open. I learned a lot about junkies but as 'hip' as I was I did not even suspect the drug coming into my own house.
When the junkies here decide that pills just are not cost effective they drive to Cincinnati to score heroin, easy to get. The death spiral starts.
Sure legalize pot,I'll support that, it is benign, but opiates are not.

Reposting this link, these people are 5 times better at keeping addicts, of all stripes, clean and it is free. This place is in Kentucky but I think there are similar models around the country. Regardless, they will help you locate another program or they accept people from all over the country. A worthy charity as well. Peace, R

http://www.thehealingplace.org/ If you worry about how far Kentucky may be from your home, what is the final price these addicts pay? Good luck to everybody addicted or involved with an addict. They CAN come back, don't give up.

Anyone needing to talk or just ask questions please PM me.

[cyberpj]

26. Here ya go:

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1981582,00.html

There have also been many expose' television pieces on this disgusting situation that preys on the addictive nature of the pills and the people using them. Not to mention the people driving there to get them by the 100's, if not 1000's and then sell them to others at outrageous prices, also preying on those with an addiction problem.

[Webster Green]

27. Uh, yeh. I got it.

The poster I was replying to says they're already legal. I said "why are they arresting people then?".
Obviously, it isn't legal to doctor shop a stash of oxies and sell them on the black market.

My argument is for legalizing drugs in general, thereby taking the profit out of the black market for drugs, weather they are legal only with a prescription or just plain illegal.

The current strategy of lying about drugs (pot and heroin are equally dangerous), and trying to round up everyone who uses them is an absurd waste of money and resources. A better plan is harm reduction by education and legalization.

[No Elephants]

33. Illegal sales. Same difference.

[timtom]

11. You don't know what you're talking about!

This operation had nothing to do with health!

Oxycodone is NOT a recreational drug. It's a killer! For those with addiction problems, that is.

My son passed Jan 13 this year from these pills (most certainly from these cynical and heartless bastards). This is the equivalent of arms manufactures prosecuting needless wars to maximize profits.

I'm normally against the war on drugs. But in the case of heroin, crack, and these oxy drugs, go get 'em, cowboy.

By the way, I miss my son terribly.

[independentpiney]

13. I'm so sorry for your loss

My son is trouble with this shit and I'm so scared.

[era veteran]

15. I have had two boys get hooked and lots of employees.

We have saved them both. One spent 3months cooling his heels in jail and that was enough for him. The other boy went to The Heeling Place in Louisville KY. They do a remarkable job and can help your son if He wants help. I believe I would be grieving now if not for that place. It is free too and is supported by donations. Recently my boy, now a counselor, was seated with big shots at a fund raising dinner and the two men ended up donating a couple of a million dollars after talking with him. I will leave you a link to them. I would guess that might be too far to consider but these people have a success rate 5 times better than other rehabs. Good luck and if you want feel free to PM me. R

http://www.thehealingplace.org/

[JNelson6563]

46. Wonderful posts in this thread era veteran!

Thank you for sharing your painful experiences and valuable information. Congratulations on saving your sons. My brother struggles with this and it's not easy. Hard to believe what happens to the life of an addict. People who haven't seen it up close and personal cannot fully understand.

Julie

[era veteran]

49. Thanks, We feel so lucky to have survived this

A friend helped us with the finding of the Healing Place and we would like to help others. I quit alcohol over twenty years ago so my boys would not see a drunk as they grew up and to break the generational circle of alcohol addiction in my family. I was surprised when their addiction surfaced thinking I was so street smart about heroin and alcohol. In '73 you would see every drug imaginable in use in the Army. Kentucky, with a poor economy before the recession is especially hard hit. Today the KSP will waste money,time, and manpower looking for marijuana when I can show them a pill house in operation. STUPID, brain bleach needed.

Again, if you or a loved one needs help, try this link. They save people and it is free. They have separate campus' for men/boys and women/ girls. IT IS FREE!!!!!!!!!
http://www.thehealingplace.org/

[JNelson6563]

47. Oops, double post!

[florida08]

14. I'm so sorry too

And you're absolutely right. More people are getting hooked on 'legal' drugs now more than ever and these pills are are destroying families and our youth. I'm with ya..go get 'em cowboy. :hi:

[era veteran]

17. We, Peaches, and I feel so sorry for your loss.

I have posted below our experience. We now have a pill house on our street. The police and Mayor, and Councilman haven't responded but I am going to our local rag and talk with a reporter. She has been writing about the pill pipeline from Florida to Kentucky for these pills. I have need for these pain relievers from time to time and they can save your life but the damage from illegal sales is bad and getting worse. I cannot fathom your pain and feel that we have been so lucky. Take care. R

[Webster Green]

22. I do know what I'm talking about.

If opiates were legal, and available in controlled doses, the black market for oxycontins and stuff would go away. People have been getting high since there were people. No amount of cowboy drug warriors will make much of a dent in the black market. They never have, and they never will. If harm reduction is the goal, then legalization is the solution.

I am sorry about your son. I lost a brother. I've been strung out myself. I still believe that legalization and education are the answers. Our clueless government is telling kids that pot and heroin are equally dangerous. The kids try a little pot and figure out they have been lied to. Guess what happens next. I realize this is about prescription painkillers, but that doesn't matter. Folks are looking to feel good, weather it's by using alcohol, pot, heroin, oxycontin, coke.....whatever.

[SOS]

50. Legal opiates are a success in Europe

Health is improved, crime is way down, addicts are getting jobs, treatment is available.
This is the answer, based on actual results.
But since this is the USA, common sense is not an option.

Swiss approve prescription heroin
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7757050.stm

Experts hail German heroin clinic trial
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/5043766.stm

[JNelson6563]

45. So sorry.

:hug:

[Dappleganger]

51. In agreement with you, oxy is so dangerous.

I am so sorry for the loss of your son.

We have some close friends who are going through this now with their son; he's been in and out of rehab (back in for mandatory rehab now and has done time). He was a good kid growing up and didn't get into oxy until he joined the military (he's out now). This happens to good families, too and is heartbreaking. :(

[LanternWaste]

36. I don't think so.

"they are really ramping up the "war on drugs"..."

I don't think so. This type of crime has been vigorously prosecuted for many years. No "ramping" up-- simply being consistent with previous years.

[Webster Green]

40. Obama has ramped up the war on drugs.

That is real obvious.

[Politicalboi]

2. Now where is Rush going

To get his pills? LOL!

[Angry Dragon]

4. Those crying sounds in the studio you hear is rush

[glowing]

5. Sounds like a few of these people must have pissed off the wrong people.

Maybe they were taking too much money away from the DEA? We all know the Miami Port has more illegal trafficing of everything into this country every day. They go after a few Dr's... seems the Dr's got in the way and got too big for their britches... When you have people coming in from Mexico and Turkey, you may just be getting too big and noticeable...

[zazen]

6. these clinics are source of major illegal drug trade and deaths

I was talking to my sister who's a social worker in TN and she was telling me about the number of babies and children--around 75% these days referred to CPS because of parents who are strung out on Oxy's. There are other drugs, but prescription Oxy's are the hot things now.

There are dealers who drive right down to FL and get three scripts from these various places, drive back, and sell them for 30-40 a pop. The addicts are stealing and whoring in her city to get the money to buy it.

I'm all for pain clinics that really help people with chronic pain and hate the idea that doctors tell people that intense pain is psychosomatic. But they need a better tracking system to keep the out-of-state drug dealers from continuing to ruin the lives of their fellow citizens, and that starts with the doctors' offices and their owners who deliberately sell to these bastards.

They are so much more dangerous than anybody personally using or growing pot, and yet the latter get draconian sentences while the oxy dealers typically plead out. What a screwed up system.

[RamboLiberal]

9. Current TV had an excellent doc on this

Amazing the distances the addicts/dealers were driving to these clinics. And a shame docs selling their soul to this instead of using their training for good.

[era veteran]

19. Kentucky is getting worse because of this evil shit.

Yet the police dress up like soldiers and run around in Hueys wasting time and money bothering people about pot. Stupid as it gets.

[florida08]

7. Shutting down the oxycontin express

is a good thing. Some of these people were going in getting their 'pain' meds then walking back out on the street to sell them. This kind of operation hurts reputable pain clinics.

:kick:

[Historic NY]

16. People wonder why RX drugs are so high...this is part of the problem..

it rips us all off from the company to the prescription plans Medicare/ Medicaid. I believe the street price is $40 a tab now perhaps more. It can be snorted, injected or chewed. It known as hill Billy heroin or poor man heroin. The blackmarket/street trade is driving up the cost.

We have had our share of Pill Dr's who will write a script at the drop of a hat. Its time they take them out of the equation.

Another legal drug which is adding to the misery index.

[florida08]

21. absolutely

Vanguard on Current tv did a documentary on this. Couldn't believe how people were flying in from all over the country to south FL. They were getting something like a 3 month supply of these things. But since they were legal and distributed by licensed doctors they couldn't do much. They were filming outside one clinic showing the place was packed. When one of the clinic employees noticed them they were shooed away.

Demand sure does make the cost go up for the rest of us..especially a controlled substance. Ever notice how many tv ads start with "ask your doctor". Marketing works..unfortunately

[BR_Parkway]

8. “This is used more traditionally against the mafia but we see this as a criminal enterprise.’’

Damn, I'd love to see a US Attorney use that phrase about Goldman, BOA or Citi one day.

Cheney, Rumsfeld and Shrub now that we get right down to it..

[WhiteTara]

10. Poor little Rushie, he's going to be in withdrawal soon.

:rofl:

[valerief]

12. I guess another city wants to be the new Oxy Alley and has the muscle to make it happen. nt

[hunter]

34. If selling drugs is too easy it cuts into profits.

That's bad for the drug manufacturers and importers, the money laundering bankers, the arms merchants, the prison industry...

Gotta stir the pot every once and awhile or the market turns to shit. Without these kind of price supports too many people would be growing opium, coca, mushrooms, marijuana, ephedra, etc., and cooking them up for sale in their own kitchens.

[EC]

18. Just reading the headline

I knew it was Florida's oxy mills.

[era veteran]

20. Thanks for the post

Should be talked about more.

[DiverDave]

41. Legitimate pain patients are hurt by this too.

I am one, I take pain killers just to function.

I am sick to death of the warped perception that I'm a drug addict/seeker.

I never use anything but what my doctor prescribes.

I have ran out early at times and just had to deal with the pain until I could get my refill.


Never once have I bought or sold my medication, or any other drug for pain control, yet to some I am an 'addict'.

So, the doctors giving these out are hurting the ones who buy them AND the ones that really NEED them.

[era veteran]

42. My story and I agree

I got some new therapy that has cut my use dramatically. When you need them though you need them.

If you read my above post... Two customers just left the pill house and still no police. Pisses me off.

[JNelson6563]

44. Sadly they won't in turn fund rehab services

for all those addicts who will now be without a source and will be desperately ill and do anything to get it. I am sure the other black market dealers will not miss the opportunity to raise their prices in the face of increased demand which, in turn, will contribute to increased crime to get the money to buy the more expensive drugs.

*sigh* and the beat goes on.....

Julie