ORLANDO, Fla. – An Orlando doctor has been arrested on manslaughter and drug trafficking charges after agents say one of his patients died of an overdose from his prescription.
Dr. Ibem Borges, 53, and wife Wanda I. Otero, were arrested on Monday morning on accusations of operating illegal pill mills in Orlando and Kissimmee, according to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement release.
Borges was charged with one count of manslaughter, three counts of trafficking oxycodone, racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. Otero was charged with racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, and structuring transactions to evade the reporting requirement.
"This guy was making his living on people who are addicted to pills," said Jack Massey, with Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Agents said they began investigating Borges after allegations that the family practices he owned in Orange and Osceola counties, appeared to be operating as "pill mills."
Search warrants were served in 2013 at doctor offices and a home owned by Burges, where agents found controlled substances were routinely prescribed, regardless of patient needs, according to a release.
"We're not talking about trafficking oxycodone, we're talking about a death," Massey said.
Agents said the drugs were prescribed to the patient who died without a legitimate medical purpose and were dangerous to the patient's health.
Borges and Otero were booked into the Orange County Jail.
Borges is being held on $400,000 bond. Otero is being held on $200,000 bond.