Florida Criminal Attorney Blog

Agents from the DEA raided Coast to Coast pain clinic in Deerfield Beach, Florida this morning. According to news reports, boxes of documents, supplies, and two motor vehicles were seized. While the DEA would not explain the reason for the raid, it is clear to me that this clinic must be the most recent target in the DEA's effort to deal with the pain clinic crisis in Florida.

So far, no arrests have been made and no suspects have been identified.

As I have mentioned numerous times on this blog, pain pill clinics are nothing short of an epidemic in our community. They have enslaved thousands and thousands of people with Oxycontin and other narcotic pain medications. Not only are countless people converting into drug addicts, but they enter the cycle of addiction that invariably lands them in jail and even prison.

It is not uncommon for people addicted to pain pills to get arrested for drug trafficking, possession with intent to distribute, or simple possession.

Continue reading "DEA Raids Coast to Coast Pain Clinic in Deerfield Beach, Florida" »

Chris George, the owner of American Pain, went before a Federal Magistrate judge in West Palm Beach, Florida for possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. According to news reports, Chris George was convicted of a felony drug possession charge in 2002.

Mr. George is already represented by a criminal defense attorney and it appears as though he expects to fight his charges. He is presently being held in custody awaiting his bond hearing set for this Thursday.

The guns and ammunition were allegedly found by FBI and DEA agents when they raided Chris George's American Pain clinic on March 3 of this year. According to court documents filed by the FBI and DEA, Chris George's American Pain clinic generated $50,000 in business a day and was over 14,000 square feet in size.

Given a facility and business that large, it is surprising that law enforcement caught Mr. George in actual or even constructive possession of the firearms and ammunition. Odds are that facility was crawling with dozens of employees, patients, and other persons. I doubt this charge will be difficult for Mr. George's criminal defense lawyer to beat.

However, what it is more worrisome, from a criminal defense attorney's perspective, is the criminal investigation being conducted by the FBI and DEA that led to the raid where the guns and ammo were found.

Given Chris George's huge success as a pain clinic owner, it is obvious that the FBI and DEA are looking for violations that would support a drug trafficking case or some other violations like FDA regulations or even State law concerning the pain clinic business.

Continue reading "Pain Clinic Owner Arrested on Gun Charge in West Palm Beach, Florida" »

This past February, the Broward County Commission, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, established a task force to make regulatory and licensing recommendations to the commission concerning pain clinics. As readers may already be aware, the pain clinic issue has exploded into an epidemic with Broward County as its epicenter.

In 2007 there were only 4 pain clinics operating in Broward County. Now, there are a whopping 154 clinics in Broward alone. Palm Beach has 122 clinics. In total, there are 942 clinics throughout all of Florida.

For those that are not aware, the patrons of these clinics are not comprised of cancer patients and burn victims who need pain management as part of their medical routine. Instead, most patrons are young people and out-of-towners who are looking for easy access to medications to feed their addiction to substance abuse.

In fact, Broward County leads the nation in oxycodone sales. For example, the DEA claims that more than 9 million oxycodone pills were dispensed by Broward clinics during a brief six month period in 2008.

Continue reading "Broward County Task Force Recommends Pill Mills Be Owned by Physicians" »

Raquel Wright, a 36 year old school teacher at Oslo Middle School in Indian River County, Florida was arrested this week for Trafficking in Oxycodone. Given her status as a school teacher, it is presumed that she does not have any prior criminal history.

While her case is pending, a judge ordered that Wright be released on a $150,000 bond. Before posting this bond, Wright should have retained a lawyer to file a motion to reduce bond. On a school teacher' salary, a $150,000 bond may be a bit excessive, even though the crime alleged is a serious felony.

However, bond is not Wright's main problem. As a criminal defense attorney, I think Wright's case presents a number of interesting questions whose answers may help her case. First, how did the police come to get involved with her? According to news reports, cops set up a sting operation after Wright agreed to sell them pills over the phone.

Was she snitched on by a confidential informant? Did the police violate the law when they investigated her? If a snitch was used, was that person cooperating with police to save themselves from their own case? Did police entrap Wright?

Once she was arrested, did Wright give a statement to police? If so, did they advise her of her right to remain silent and her right to an attorney before questioning? If not, any and all statements made by Wright may be thrown out by a judge.

Continue reading "Raquel Wright Arrested for Trafficking in Oxycodone in Indian River County, Florida" »

Investigators from the Tampa Police Department executed a search warrant on First Medical Group in Tampa, Florida. First Medical is a pain clinic that allegedly dispensed prescription medication without a license and engaged in money laundering. Police investigators are currently in the process of reviewing medical records, taking witness statements, and analyzing any evidence of wrong-doing that they may have seized during their raid.

While no arrests have been made, police do claim that some are in the works. Given the severity of the offenses, bond may be set very high simply as a consequence of the number of charges filed.

If this is the case, those arrested would benefit greatly by hiring an attorney to file a motion for bond reduction. While there is no guarantee as to outcomes, most motions to reduce bond are successful.

When a judge sets bond, he or she will consider a number of important factors. These include the nature of the charges, the possibility that the defendant may flee if released, and the possibility that the defendant poses a danger to the community.

Since a search warrant has already been executed, I can tell you that the next step in this case will include arrests. Therefore, those involved would be best served by immediately hiring defense lawyers to help guide them through the process and act as their representative.

If police haven't done so already, they will also be seeking statements, aka "confessions," from the pain clinic's employees, owners, and any other persons involved that they may be trying to build a case against. This will certainly include any companies and individuals who may have unlawfully or negligently supplied First Medical with prescription medication.

Continue reading "First Medical Group Pain Clinic Raided by Police in Tampa, Florida" »