Boca Raton doctors accused of practicing without a license, go before a judge for bond hearings

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Three doctors charged with practicing medicine without a business license, went before a Palm Beach County Judge Friday.

Investigators said Dr. Henry Joseph Battagliola, Dr. Mark Cukierman and Dr. Kyin Sein Ho all gave treatment and prescribed prescription drugs to patients at Boca East Pain Management clinic after the license was revoked in 2010.

Investigators have also charged Dr. Edward Jose Mila Prats in this case but he has not been located.

Investigators begin looking into the clinic's records in May 2011 under Operation Take as Needed.

13 agencies formed the Palm Beach County Multi-Agency Diversion Task Force.

Documents obtained by the task force indicated the practice of improper ordering and transferring of controlled substances, operating and managing a non-registered pain clinic and prescribing controlled substances on numerous occasions before, during, and after their business license was revoked in 2010.

Charges range from Operating a Non registered PMC, possession with intent to sell or deliver contraband prescription drugs, trafficking oxycodone, prescribing controlled substances and practicing without a license.

Dr. Battagliola received an $11,000.00 bond, Dr Ho received a $165,000.00 bond and Dr. Cukierman received a $250,000.00 bond.

Cukierman's attorney, Fred Schwartz said authorities are preventing good doctors from working.

"I think the state has a valid purpose, Florida has a bad reputation for having these clinics. I think they're trying to pressure doctors not to work at a pain management center and in doing that they're unfortunately arresting and continuing to arrest legitimate doctors."