Pill mill conference hosted in Orlando
DEA tackles prescription drug abuse problem
Pill mill conference hosted in Orlando
State Drug Enforcement agents are meeting Thursday afternoon to discuss tackling Florida's prescription drug abuse problem over the next year.
The announcement comes just days after agents raided two Sanford CVS pharmacies in Seminole County and then announced it was banning the stores from selling certain drugs.
Agents said the latest arrests have taken millions of dollars worth of prescription pain killers off the streets of Orlando.
In their latest operation, two Central Florida doctors and three other people were arrested for running pill mills. FDLE agents said the group was responsible for prescribing more pills than the entire state of California.
During the press conference Thursday morning, the FDLE formally announced and outline the charges against the following suspects.
Dr. Riyaz Juammni was charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering and Dr. Aron Rotman faces two charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering and racketeering.
The other three arrests were Lewis Shapiro, Jarrett Shapiro and Darrin Shapiro, who all face three charges of conspiracy to committ racketeering, racketeering and money laundering.
This past week, the State Attorneys Office announced criminal charges against the doctors and the Shapiros, who were operating a pill mill. The Shapiros were found in Hawaii running a new pill mill.
It's been nearly a year since the Drug Enforcement Strike Force began targeting pill mills in Florida. During that time, dozens of doctors have been arrested, pain clinics were shut down and pharmacies have been targeted.
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