Federal drug agents and DeKalb police targeted a pain clinic for the second time in two weeks on Tuesday.
Officers arrested a doctor from Southern Health Management Clinic on Northlake Parkway in Tucker. The clinic, which is located just a short distance from the DeKalb County Police Department, has been open for 18 months.
DEA agent Chuvalo Truesdale says investigators have ample evidence the Tucker pain clinic is really a pill mill -- a place where doctors write prescriptions for oxocodone, Percocet and other regulated pain meds for a fee, with little to no patient consultation.
Truesdale said that pain pills of today remind him of crack houses of the 1980s.
"They were being funded, or they were being led and run by crack dealers. In this day and time, it's the clinicians that are running these pain clinics," said Truesdale.
Truesdale pointed to the high volume of out state tags as proof that patients can get what they the meds they want, even if they don't need it.
Two weeks ago the clinic's owner, Jeff Gonzalez, was arrested during a raid. That same day, Dr. Michael Assevero, an OB-GYN, was allowed to leave. On Tuesday, he was arrested.
Employee Nick Stabal denied that the clinic did anything wrong.
"People don't come here if they're remarketing the medication because they would never even get enough to justify the visit," said Stabal.
Assevero was charged with conspiracy to distribute oxocodone.
Gonzales, the owner of the clinic, was present during Tuesday's raid. He had no comment.
Friday, May 24 2013 11:06 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:06:52 GMT
If you're hitting the road this weekend, you wont be alone. Plenty of drivers are expected to make use of the long Memorial Day weekend, both in and out of town.
If you're hitting the road this weekend, you wont be alone. Plenty of drivers are expected to make use of the long Memorial Day weekend, both in and out of town.
Friday, May 24 2013 11:00 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:00:01 GMT
An Army Reserve sergeant surprised his daughter by returning from an overseas deployment and presenting her with her diploma at high school graduation.
An Army Reserve sergeant surprised his daughter by returning from an overseas deployment and presenting her with her diploma at high school graduation.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:32 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:32:57 GMT
Authorities say more than a dozen people were injured in an accident involving a hotel shuttle bus near Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Friday morning.
Authorities say more than a dozen people were injured in an accident involving a hotel shuttle bus near Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Friday morning.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:28 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:28:55 GMT
In-depth reporting by the Druid Hills High School student newspaper on DeKalb's accreditation controversy landed the head of SACS as the school's commencement speaker on Friday.
In-depth reporting by the Druid Hills High School student newspaper on DeKalb's accreditation controversy landed the head of SACS as the school's commencement speaker on Friday.
Friday, May 24 2013 5:50 PM EDT2013-05-24 21:50:02 GMT
Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the summer boating season. Authorities are reminding folks that there are some new laws on Georgia's waterways.
Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the summer boating season. Authorities are reminding folks that there are some new laws on Georgia's waterways.
Officers arrested a doctor from Southern Health Management Clinic on Northlake Parkway in Tucker on Tuesday, July 3, 2012.
