A doctor already charged with operating an alleged “pill mill” out of medical offices in both Bristol Township and Philadelphia is facing more charges, according to federal officials.
Dr. William J. O’Brien III, 49, was charged Tuesday by superseding indictment on 23 additional counts of illegally distributing oxycodone, methadone, and amphetamines, all Schedule II controlled substances, outside the usual course of professional practice and for no legitimate medical purpose, United States Attorney Zane David Memeger said in a statement.
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The new charges stem from allegations that O’Brien, a doctor of osteopathic medicine, wrote prescriptions of “addictive and dangerous controlled substances” for a fee and without physical examination or any other medical care, according to a press release.
Federal authorities found during an investigation that O’Brien charged patients $250 for the first appointment to buy prescriptions and $200 for each appointment to obtain refills.
Angela Rongione, 29, was charged in the case last month. According to the indictment, Rongione screened customers at the offices, scheduled appointments, collected “co-pays” for the drugs and kept records of the prescriptions sold by O’Brien.
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Authorities alleged that O’Brien sold scripts for thousands of drugs to an informant and an undercover FBI agent during the course of the investigation.
Federal authorities said O’Brien operated an office at 49 Rolling Lane in Bristol Township’s Levittown section and on Bustleton Avenue in Philadelphia.
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O’Brien was part of a group of about 100 doctors who offered to purchase Lower Bucks County Hospital for $20 million several years back, according to an article from the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Records also show O’Brien’s several medical offices and related businesses filed for bankruptcy back in 2010.
A 2011 report from the Burlington County Times details how an office O’Brien operated in Middletown was raided by the FBI and a 10-person hyperbaric chamber was confiscated along with documents. The chamber was reported used at Lower Bucks Hospital for several years prior.
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O’Brien’s operation reportedly brought in $1.8 million last year.
“If convicted, the defendants face substantial prison terms and fines, and are subject to criminal forfeiture proceedings,” federal officials said.
