Theodore Obermeyer, the manager of a pain clinic in the George network of pill mills, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Joey Bartolucci. Bartolucci was 24 when he overdosed on pain pills. Obermeyer pleaded guilty to one count each of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit drug trafficking. Under the plea agreement, Obermeyer’s potential prison sentence will be capped at 20 years.
Obermeyer previously received a 12 year federal prison sentence on charges connected to his part in the pain pill network. Obermeyer is scheduled to begin serving that sentence in April. The judge has scheduled a status hearing for the plea agreement for September.
Both George brothers have been sentenced to prison terms for their part in furthering prescription drug addiction in Florida.
Pain Clinic Manager Pleads Guilty
January 26th, 2012Lawsuit Filed Against CVS/pharmacy
January 24th, 2012One physician in Orlando is angry about the decision by CVS/pharmacy to not fill pain pill prescriptions from a small group of Florida physicians. The Orlando physician says CVS/pharmacy basically pegged him as a criminal. CVS/pharmacy has more than 700 stores in Florida, and has refused to comment on how or why it compiled the list. Many people, however, have praised CVS/pharmacy for taking a strong position at a time when the fight against prescription drug abuse in Florida is still considered to be at the forefront.
“We have informed a small number of Florida physicians that CVS/pharmacy will no longer fill the prescriptions they write for Schedule II narcotics. While we regret any inconvenience this may cause for our customers, we treat the dispensing of controlled substances with the utmost care and seriousness. CVS/pharmacy is unwavering in its compliance and measures to prevent drug abuse and keep controlled substances out of the wrong hands,” said CVS/pharmacy spokesman Mike DeAngelis.
Dr. Sylvester Hanna owns Wellness Centers USA, an Orlando pain clinic. Hanna filed the defamation suit against CVS/pharmacy, claiming that by Hanna’s placement on the list, CVS/pharmacy is falsely implying that he is acting unethically or illegally.
Former Miss USA Appears In Court In DUI Case
January 21st, 2012Former Miss USA Rima Fakih appeared in a suburban Detroit courtroom this week in her drunken driving case. Her attorneys hope the case could be resolved soon with a plea deal.
“I apologize. My lawyer doesn’t want me to talk,” said Fakih.
Her attorney, W. Otis Culpepper, will prepare for a trial, but understands that a plea deal is a possibility.
“Of course she’s remorseful. She’s a model for young women…She’s a woman of substantial character,” said Culpepper.
At the time of her arrest, police found a bottle of champagne inside her Jaguar. Her blood alcohol level was measured at 0.20 %, much higher than Michigan’s limit of 0.08%.
Fakih won the Miss USA title in May of 2010. She was the first Arab-American to be crowned Miss USA, and the first Miss Michigan to win since 1993. Fakih was born in Lebanon, but moved to the United States at a young age.
Surgeon General To Speak At First National Rx Drug Abuse Summit
January 20th, 2012The epidemic of prescription drug abuse in the United States is a growing public health concern. As a result, the first National Rx Drug Abuse Summit will take place in April in Florida. The summit’s keynote speaker will be the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina M. Benjamin.
“The negative impacts of substance abuse span a broad spectrum, including health care costs, public safety, economic development and social services. As ‘America’s Doctor,’ Dr. Benjamin is on the front line of responding to this crisis,” said Karen Kelly, president of Operation UNITE, a non-profit organization based in organization that is coordinating the event.
West Virginia Medical School Receives Grant To Help Pregnant Women With Addiction
January 19th, 2012The Marshall Medical School in West Virginia recently received a $50,000 grant to help pregnant women and their children with opiate addiction. Opiate addiction in pregnant women has been associated with birth defects like spina bifida, cleft lip and palate and congenital heart defects.
The grant will allow women to receive comprehensive care for both their pregnancy and their addiction. It will also educate resident and student physicians in identifying and managing women who are struggling with addiction. The money will pay for an addiction recovery clinic, nursing staff and a full-time addiction counselor.
“The whole idea of this is to have a comprehensive center for caring for women with opiate addiction, not only will they get their prenatal care here, but we’ll treat them, convert them from the street drugs they’re taking and as part of that also we have a counselor who will provide addiction counseling,” said Dr. David Jude, a professor and chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Man Convicted Of DUI Manslaughter Now Suing One Of The Victims
January 17th, 2012A Florida man who pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter is now suing the family of one of three people who died in the Christmas 2007 car crash.
David Belniak claims the crash was not his fault, despite pleading guilty and being sentenced to 12 years in prison. Despite having alcohol and drugs in his system at the time of the crash, Belniak is suing for compensation for pain, suffering and medical bills. The plaintiff’s attorney calls the lawsuit ridiculous.
Eastern North Carolina Struggling With Prescription Drug Abuse
January 16th, 2012Eastern North Carolina is experiencing dire consequences from prescription drug abuse.
“With the exception of traffic fatalities, prescription drug overdoses are the leading cause of death among young people in Eastern North Carolina,” said North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper.
According to the North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics, the death rate for unintentional overdoses was 11 per 100,000 people, but was higher in the counties of Eastern North Carolina. Eastern North Carolina has seen a 400 percent increase in prescription drug abuse over the past five years. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, methadone, oxycodone, hydrocodone and other pain pills were the most common drugs to blame for overdose deaths in Eastern North Carolina.
Man With Three DUI Convictions Arrested
January 2nd, 2012A 30-year-old man with three previous DUI convictions is accused of driving impaired while speeding away from police with unrestrained children in his van.
Randy Schaub remains in the Pinellas County Jail without bond. He has no attorney on record. He was on felony probation when Pinellas Park police arrested him on Tuesday afternoon. Schaub refused a sobriety test, but was observed by police with slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. Schaub was convicted three times on DUI – in 1998, 2001 and 2003. In 2003, Schaub had his driver’s license revoked for ten years.
Florida Authorities Continuing Fight Against Prescription Drug Abuse
January 1st, 2012The authorities in Florida are forging ahead with the fight against prescription drug abuse by scrutinizing more pharmacies, physicians and pain clinics.
Federal investigations have revealed several drug trafficking rings in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Authorities are charging pill mills and pharmacies as organized criminal enterprises. Florida has also restricted the permit process required to open new pharmacies in the state.
In November, CVS notified some Florida physicians that its pharmacies will no longer fill their prescriptions for drugs like oxycodone, saying it wanted to “prevent drug abuse and keep controlled substances out of the wrong hands.”