Five Arrested in Raid of Alleged Pill Mill in Florida

Tampa, FL (Law Firm Newswire) March 26, 2015 – In February 2015, a Florida pain clinic was raided by several law enforcement agencies, and five people were arrested. Authorities said that evidence indicated that the clinic was operating as an illegal pill mill.

Evidence was seized from the Winter Park Pain and Wellness Clinic; owner Eric Emerson, Dr. Roland Brutus and three staff members were arrested.

“If the allegations are borne out by the evidence, then the law enforcement agencies and officers are to be commended for shutting down this pill mill,” said Robert Joyce, a Tampa pharmaceutical negligence attorney with Joyce & Reyes. “Pill mills take advantage of vulnerable people, and they can bring serious injury and death to their victims.”

According to news accounts, nearby businesses have complained about the Winter Park pain clinic for years. Investigators said that the clinic posted an armed guard at the door and regularly had dozens of people lined up outside. According to investigators, in order to get in the door, people had to pay $250 and submit to a urine test showing that they were already taking pain medication or heroin.

Dr. Brutus and the staff members were taken away in handcuffs. The owner, Eric Emerson, was arrested prior to the raid.

Emerson’s home was also searched. Agents seized evidence including thousands of dollars in cash and four luxury cars. However, no pills were recovered, as law enforcement officials said that this location only wrote prescriptions and did not dispense pills.

Investigators said the clinic only accepted cash and wrote prescriptions for morphine, oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone and diazepam (Valium).

Learn more at http://www.joyceandreyespa.com Joyce and Reyes Law Firm, P.A. 307 S Hyde Park Ave Tampa, FL 33606 Call: 813.251.2007