BALTIMORE, Md. (WUSA9) -- Sixteen people, including pain clinic owners, distributors, and runners were indicted with drug conspiracy and other charges in connection with claiming to operate pain management clinics, which were in fact "pill mills."
In addition to the arrests made, a total of 14 search warrants were executed at clinics, pharmacies and residences, officials said.
"Pharmaceutical pills can be just as harmful as illegal drugs when they are used without proper medical supervision and without valid medical need," said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. "Abuse of oxycodone is one of our most significant drug enforcement challenges, and it is a direct cause of the epidemic of heroin overdose deaths."
"These indictments, search warrants, and subsequent arrests show that DEA is dedicated to dismantling "pill-mill" operations. When prescriptions are obtained through rogue pain management clinics and then sold on the streets, it creates and feeds a new generation of users and addicts," stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Karl C. Colder. "These addicts will continue to abuse the illegal prescriptions, or switch to a cheaper and more potent drug; heroin. DEA and its partners will continue to work vigilantly to stop this dangerous trend," stated SAC Colder.
The three indictments allege the owners of operating the pain management clinics as the "pill mills." Controlled substances, such as oxycodone were prescribed for non-professional practice and without any legitimate medical purpose.
The money made from the "pill mill" operations was then kept by the owners.
One of the indictments charges 13 people with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone. According to the indictment, PG Wellness and A Plus Pain based out of Oxon Hill, Md. and D.C. were actually pill mills. Officials say during one month of operation at least 400 patients were seen at these locations. Each person would get at least 100 oxycodone 30 mg pills, a total of 20,000 pills. The street value of each pill is estimated at $30 per pill, the equivalent of $600,000.
The following people were charged:
Donald Russell, age 51, of Waldorf, Maryland;
Bruce Kevin Lewis, age 52, of Deale, Maryland;
Danielle Silberstein, age 31, of Waldorf;
Peter Snyder, age 34, of Ocean City, Maryland;
Robert Long, age 34, of Mechanicsville, Maryland;
Jamie Davis, age 28, of LaPlata, Maryland;
Ronald Tennyson, age 32, of Mechanicsville;
Terrell Downing, age 25, of New Carrollton, Maryland;
John Fields, age 62, of Temple Hills, Maryland;
Ronald Rust, age 44, of Alexandria, Virginia;
Ronald Kans, age 41, of LaPlata;
Walter Moffett, age 51, of Chestertown, Maryland;
Melissa Catlett, age 38, of King George, Virginia.
The other pill mills were located at the First Priority Health Care in Elkridge, Md. and at the MPC Wellness Center based out of Greentbelt, Md.
The investigation is ongoing and more charges are expected, officials said.
OTHER NEWS:
