News (Media Awareness Project) - US SC: Former Pain Clinic Doctor Charged in Drug Conspiracy |
| Title: | US SC: Former Pain Clinic Doctor Charged in Drug Conspiracy |
| Published On: | 2004-11-10 |
| Source: | Sun News (Myrtle Beach, SC) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-17 19:14:10 |
FORMER PAIN CLINIC DOCTOR CHARGED IN DRUG CONSPIRACY
Federal authorities have identified and charged another doctor with
illegally distributing narcotics at the former Comprehensive Care and
Pain Management Center of Myrtle Beach.
An arraignment is set for today in Florence for Gregory W. Walter of
Albany, Ga., who was indicted on charges of conspiracy to unlawfully
distribute and dispense controlled substances and money laundering.
Seven doctors from the clinic, including its owner, Dr. Michael
Woodward, already have been convicted and sentenced in federal court
on charges related to money laundering and drug distribution.
Three of those doctors, Michael Jackson, Deborah Bordeaux and Ricardo
Alerre, have yet to begin serving their sentences. Jackson's sentence
is about 24 years, Bordeaux's about 19 years and Alerre's about eight
years. Each was convicted of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and
dispense controlled substances and conspiracy to launder money.
A federal judge recently ruled that the three, who were sentenced in
February, would not have to report to prison before January, said
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Day.
Walter was indicted in October and was at the pain center before some
of the other doctors, Day said. Walters wasn't named in the initial
indictment because he had moved on from the clinic to a facility out
of state before federal authorities charged the others, Day said.
"We were trying to address the problem that was in Myrtle Beach at
that time," Day said.
Other doctors who also worked at the clinic have not been charged, but
it was unclear Tuesday whether any of them would be charged, he said.
Federal agents investigated the pain center, which operated between
1997 and 2001, after receiving multiple complaints from police,
pharmacists and doctors that suspicious amounts of narcotics were
being prescribed from the pain center.
Authorities shut down Comprehensive Care in 2001 and subsequently
charged eight doctors, three clinic employees and several patients.
One doctor committed suicide before trial.
Federal authorities have identified and charged another doctor with
illegally distributing narcotics at the former Comprehensive Care and
Pain Management Center of Myrtle Beach.
An arraignment is set for today in Florence for Gregory W. Walter of
Albany, Ga., who was indicted on charges of conspiracy to unlawfully
distribute and dispense controlled substances and money laundering.
Seven doctors from the clinic, including its owner, Dr. Michael
Woodward, already have been convicted and sentenced in federal court
on charges related to money laundering and drug distribution.
Three of those doctors, Michael Jackson, Deborah Bordeaux and Ricardo
Alerre, have yet to begin serving their sentences. Jackson's sentence
is about 24 years, Bordeaux's about 19 years and Alerre's about eight
years. Each was convicted of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and
dispense controlled substances and conspiracy to launder money.
A federal judge recently ruled that the three, who were sentenced in
February, would not have to report to prison before January, said
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Day.
Walter was indicted in October and was at the pain center before some
of the other doctors, Day said. Walters wasn't named in the initial
indictment because he had moved on from the clinic to a facility out
of state before federal authorities charged the others, Day said.
"We were trying to address the problem that was in Myrtle Beach at
that time," Day said.
Other doctors who also worked at the clinic have not been charged, but
it was unclear Tuesday whether any of them would be charged, he said.
Federal agents investigated the pain center, which operated between
1997 and 2001, after receiving multiple complaints from police,
pharmacists and doctors that suspicious amounts of narcotics were
being prescribed from the pain center.
Authorities shut down Comprehensive Care in 2001 and subsequently
charged eight doctors, three clinic employees and several patients.
One doctor committed suicide before trial.
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