Arrests made in statewide crackdown on ‘pill mills’

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WASHINGTON TWP., Montgomery County – A physician is under arrest in connection with what state Attorney General Mike DeWine is calling the “last pill mill in Scioto County.”

Dr. Victor Andrei Georgescu was arrested this morning in Washington Twp. by state and local authorities on an indictment charging felony crimes that include drug trafficking and permitting drug abuse.

DeWine, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy, and Scioto County officials have shut down that pill mill, Greater Medical Advance, as law enforcement agents served search warrants at the Wheelersburg clinic, the clinic doctor's residence, and the clinic owner's residence. Investigators say 14,000 prescriptions for narcotics came out of that clinic in nine months. The clinic was only open 36 hours a week and had only one doctor.

"I am personally involved in the fight against prescription drug abuse in Ohio," DeWine said. "The attorney general's office has made a major commitment and focus on going after these pill mills, the doctors, and the owners who run them. I am glad today we can say we have shut down the last one in Scioto County, where national attention has focused on the prescription drug problem."

A Scioto County grand jury has indicted Georgescu and Mr. George Marshall Adkins on four counts each:

All counts against Georgescu and Adkins include a major drug offender specification. In addition, the first three counts against Adkins include a firearms specification. Georgescu was arrested today at 8120 Garnet Drive in Washington Twp.

According to Montgomery County real estate records, there is a medical clinic and office at that address, which is owned by a Dayton woman.

Dan Tierney, a spokesman for the state attorney general's office, would not comment as to why Georgescu was in the Centerville-Washington Twp. area or whether there was any criminal activity occurring in Montgomery County.

The 30-month investigation has been a cooperative effort between the Ohio Attorney General's office (Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Special Prosecutions Unit), the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy, Board of Pharmacy compliance agent Kevin "Joe" Kinneer, Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini and Scioto County Prosecutor Mark E. Kuhn.

Today, agents from BCI, the Scioto County Sheriff's Office, and the Ohio Board of Pharmacy served search warrants at three addresses:

Two other people face charges. Tammy Newman, a former owner and current employee of Greater Medical Advance, is charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (1st degree felony), conspiracy to engage in corrupt activity (2nd degree felony), and funding drug trafficking (1st degree felony). Newman's charges also bring a major drug offender specification.

Melissa Veach, an employee of Greater Medical Advance, faces one charge of aggravated drug possession (3rd degree felony).

The Ohio Attorney General\'s office also filed an action today to declare the clinic and its operators a public nuisance. The suit seeks immediate closure of Greater Medical Advance.

"This has been a top priority for me and for Gov. John Kasich since we both took office in January. With a laser-like focus on this issue, we have made real progress," said DeWine, who participated in today's law enforcement events in Scioto County.

"Our office, along with many other agencies in this state, has worked to help shut down more than a dozen pill mills in Scioto County alone. Statewide, investigations have resulted in the permanent revocation of 14 medical doctors' licenses. We will continue to fight against illegal drug dealing in pain clinics and prescription drug destruction of families. Our work, unfortunately, is not over." The Ohio Attorney General's office is involved in more than two dozen prescription drug investigations.

Staff Writer Kelli Wynn and WHIO-TV Reporter Jill Del Greco contributed to this report.