Pain clinics raided

Palm Beach County deputies and the Drug Enforcement Administration raided South Florida pain clinics Wednesday. They called it 'Operation Pill Mill Nation.'

The operation consisted of approximately 340 undercover buys from doctors and medical personnel in pain clinics throughout Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade, according to the Palm Beach County State Attorney.

The clinics, which often supply in large quantities legal but addictive drugs, were shut down.

In the Palm Beach County raids, 11 people were taken into custody, including 5 physicians.

“With today’s arrests and the charging of numerous Palm Beach County pain clinic owners, doctors and employees with RICO, trafficking and other crimes, the community knows that the days are numbered for the alleged profiteers of pain," State Attorney Michael McAuliffe said in a written release.

During a Delray Beach raid that began about 10 a.m., agents arrested Dr. Zvi Perper, the son of Broward Medical Examiner Dr. Joshua Perper. He is the listed owner of Delray Pain Management, 201 N. Swinton Ave. though the facility is run by manager Kenneth Murry, who opened it in early 2009.

Perper was led out of the clinic in handcuffs and beige medical scrubs and escorted to a Delray Beach police car. Questions shouted from a phalanx of reporters included one asking Perper if he thought this day would ever come.

"No," he said, refusing to say anything further.

A clinic assistant, Mitchell Cohen, was also taken into custody. He declined to answer any questions.

Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties have the most pain clinics of anywhere in the country.

Bob LaMendola and Alexia Campbell, of the Sun Sentinel, contributed to this report

THE PALM BEACH COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY RELEASED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

 

North Palm Beach Pain Management

 

Anthony Laterza (Owner of Clinic) - 1 count of Racketeering 895.03 3 (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison; 1 count of Conspiracy To Commit Racketeering 895.03 3 (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison; 1 count of Money Laundering 896.101 3 5(c) (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison; 1 count of Conspiracy To Commit Money Laundering 896.101 3(c) (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison; 4 counts of Unlicensed Practice Of Health Care Profession 456.065 2(d)1 (3 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 5 Years Prison; 3 counts of Trafficking In Oxycodone (Over 4 Grams.) 893.135 1(c)1(a) (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison; 3 counts of Conspiracy To Traffic In Oxycodone (Over 4 Grams) 893.135 1(c)1(a) 5 (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison and 1 count of Sale Of Steroids 893.13 1(a) (3 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 5 Years Prison - TOTAL POSSIBLE MAXIMUM SENTENCE:

325 YEARS IN PRISON

 

Donna Palemire (Owner of Clinic) - 1 count of Racketeering 895.03 3 (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison; 1 count of Conspiracy To Commit Racketeering 895.03 3 (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison; 1 count of Money Laundering 896.101 3 5(c) (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison; 1 count of Conspiracy To Commit Money Laundering 896.101 3(c) (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison; 2 counts of Unlicensed Practice Of Health Care Profession 456.065 2(d)1 (3 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 5 Years Prison; 6 counts of Trafficking In Oxycodone (Over 4 Grams.) 893.135 1(c)1(a) (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison; 6 counts of Conspiracy To Traffic In Oxycodone (Over 4 Grams) 893.135 1(c)1(a) 5 (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison and 2 counts of Dispensing Prescriptions Without a License 465.015 (3 F) – Maximum Allowable Sentence: 5 Years Prison - TOTAL POSSIBLE MAXIMUM SENTENCE: 500 YEARS IN PRISON

 

Dr. Carlos Gonzalez, Jr. (Physician) - 1 count of Racketeering 895.03 3 (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison; 1 count of Conspiracy To Commit Racketeering 895.03 3 (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison; ; 2 counts of Unlicensed Practice Of Health Care Profession 456.065 2(d)1 (3 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 5 Years Prison; 9 counts of Trafficking In Oxycodone (Over 4 Grams.) 893.135 1(c)1(a) (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison and 9 counts of Conspiracy To Traffic In Oxycodone (Over 4 Grams) 893.135 1(c)1(a) 5 (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison - TOTAL POSSIBLE MAXIMUM SENTENCE: 610 YEARS

 

Betsy Sanchez (Registered Practical Nurse) - 1 count of Racketeering 895.03 3 (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison; 1 count of Conspiracy To Commit Racketeering 895.03 3 (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison; 3 counts of Unlicensed Practice Of Health Care Profession 456.065 2(d)1 (3 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 5 Years Prison; 2 counts of Trafficking In Oxycodone (Over 4 Grams.) 893.135 1(c)1(a) (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison and 2 counts of Conspiracy To Traffic In Oxycodone (Over 4 Grams) 893.135

1(c)1(a) 5 (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison - TOTAL POSSIBLE MAXIMUM SENTENCE: 195 YEARS IN PRISON

 

Derrick Davis (Physician’s Assistant) - 1 count of Conspiracy To Commit Racketeering 895.03 3 (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison; 1 count of Trafficking In Oxycodone (Over 4 Grams.) 893.135 1(c)1(a) (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison and 1 count of Conspiracy To Traffic In Oxycodone (Over 4 Grams) 893.135 1(c)1(a) 5 (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison - TOTAL POSSIBLE MAXIMUM SENTENCE: 90 YEARS IN PRISON

 

Martine Lifleur (Physician’s Assistant) - 1 count of Conspiracy To Commit Racketeering 895.03 3 (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison; 2 counts of Trafficking In Oxycodone (Over 4 Grams.) 893.135 1(c)1(a) (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison and 2 counts of Conspiracy To Traffic In Oxycodone (Over 4 Grams) 893.135 1(c)1(a) 5 (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison - TOTAL POSSIBLE MAXIMUM SENTENCE: 150 YEARS IN PRISON

 

 

The probable cause affidavit states and alleges that between January 1, 2009, and August 1, 2010, defendants, as part of North Palm Pain Management located in Lake Park, systematically handed out hundreds of prescriptions for Roxicodone (a/k/a Oxycodone), Xanax, Steroids and other controlled substances, without medical need. It is alleged that Dr. Gonzalez would pre-sign prescriptions, which he would allow physician’s assistants and nurses to issue to patients. The clinic staff would then dispense the prescriptions on site without the authorized personnel to do so. The investigation into this clinic continues.

 

West Palm Beach Medical

 

Dr. Angelo Pace (Physician) - 4 counts of Trafficking In Oxycodone (4g – 14g) 893.135 1(c)1(a) (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison and 4 counts of Unlawful Prescription of a Controlled Substance – 893.13(8)(b) & (d) (2 F) – Maximum Allowable Sentence: 15 Years in Prison - TOTAL POSSIBLE MAXIMUM SENTENCE: 180 YEARS IN PRISON

 

The probable cause affidavit alleges that an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and other authorities revealed that from May 2010 to August 2010, Dr. Angelo Pace, employed at West Palm Beach Medical Center located in West Palm Beach, systematically prescribed controlled substances without medical need and not in the course of his usual professional practice. The investigation revealed that controlled substances were prescribed in excessive dosages and potentially fatal combinations. The investigation into this clinic continues.

 

45th Street Medical, Inc.

 

Dr. Robert Eugene Elessar (Physician) - 1 count of Trafficking in Oxycodone (28g – 30kg) – 893.135(1)(c)1c and 893.05(1) (1 F) – Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years in Prison; 3 counts of Trafficking In Oxycodone (4g – 14g) 893.135 1(c)1(a) (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison; 1 count of Trafficking in Oxycodone (14g – 28g) – 893.13(1)(c)1c and 893.05(1) (1 F) – Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years in Prison; 7 counts of Delivery of a Schedule IV Substance – 893.135(1)(a)2 and 893.05(1) (3 F) – Maximum Allowable Sentence: 5 Years in Prison and 4 counts of Delivery of Hydrocodone – 893.13(1)(a)2 and 893.05(1) (3 F) – Maximum Allowable Sentence: 5 Years in Prison - TOTAL POSSIBLE MAXIMUM SENTENCE: 205 YEARS IN PRISON

 

The probable cause affidavit alleges that Dr. Robert Elessar operated a pain clinic at 45th Street Medical, Inc. Dr. Elessar saw patients complaining of pain and allegedly issued prescriptions for controlled substances when there was no medical basis to do so. The pain clinic also filled (dispensed) the prescriptions for the patients on site. Allegedly, patients paid cash for the office visits as well as for any medications they obtained at the clinic. Between January 1, 2010 and July 7, 2010, Dr. Elessar purchased approximately 97,980 units of Oxycodone. This pain clinic is owned by a licensed chiropractor. The investigation into this clinic continues.

 

Delray Pain Management, LLC

 

Dr. Zvi Harry Perper (Physician) – 1 count of Racketeering 895.03(3) (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison; 1 count of Conspiracy To Commit Racketeering 777.04(3), 895.03(3) and 895.03(4) (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison; 7 counts of Trafficking in Oxycodone (28g – 30kg) – 893.135(1)(c)1c and 893.05(1) (1 F) – Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years in Prison; 2 count of Trafficking in Oxycodone (14g – 28g) – 893.135(1)(c)1b and 893.05(1) (1 F) – Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years in Prison; 3 counts of Conspiracy To Traffic In Oxycodone (28g – 30kg) 893.135 1(c)1c & 5 and 893.05(1) (1 F) - Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years Prison; 1 count of Trafficking in Hydromorphone (4-14 grams) - 893.135(1)(c)1a & 5 and 893.05(1) (1 F) – Maximum Allowable Sentence: 30 Years in Prison; 1 count of Conspiracy to Traffic in Hydromorphone (4-14 grams) – 893.135(1)(c)1c & 5 and 893.05(1) (1 F) – Maximum Allowable