News


Tampa Bay doctor arrested for “Pill Mill” activity

 
TAMPA, Fla. – Attorney General Pam Bondi, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey and Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee today announced that Dr. Paul K. Awa, 61, 233 Lee Street, Oldsmar, Fla. was arrested and charged with 14 counts of trafficking in Oxycodone, two counts of delivery of Alprazolam and one count of prescriber practitioner fraud.

FDLE agents and Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office detectives began investigating Dr. Awa after allegations that the pain management clinic he worked for, Main Street Medical, appeared to be operating as an unlawful “pill mill.”

During the course of the investigation, patient records and undercover office visits revealed that patients were routinely prescribed the same types of controlled substances, regardless of the individual patient’s injuries or complaints, and office visits with Dr. Awa provided only a cursory physical examination not adequate to evaluate or confirm a patient’s injury.

“We have made tremendous strides in curbing prescription drug abuse, and we will remain steadfast in our efforts to shut down every pill mill in Florida. Thanks to a strong collaboration among my Office of Statewide Prosecution, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the State Attorney’s Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit, we have arrested a doctor on charges related to prescription drug trafficking,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi.

“While prescription drug deaths have continued to decline, ‘pill mills’ remain a troublesome issue,” said FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey. “We are working with our local partners and Attorney General Bondi to put those still standing, out of business.”

“The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office continues to be very proud of our outstanding working relationship with the Office of the Attorney General and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee. “This investigation is another example of the successes that have been achieved by combining our investigative resources.”

Dr. Awa was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail on $221,500 bond. This case will be prosecuted by Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.

Contact:
Jenn Meale
Phone: 850.245.0150
jennifer.meale@myfloridalegal.com
 

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