A Bridgeport doctor alleged to have supplied excessive amounts of prescription pain medication to known drug dealers as well as seeing four patients in the past several years die as the result of overdoses from prescribed pharmaceuticals was arrested today for those alleged crimes.

 

Dr. Edita Milan of Fairmont, who operated a doctor’s office on Main Street in Bridgeport, had the warrant issued for the felony offense of conspiracy to distribute Schedule II, III and IV controlled substances. The announcement today comes on the heels of the June 27 raid of her offices by Bridgeport Police and members of the Greater Harrison County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force where dozens of boxes, files and computers were removed for evidence. Milan’s office was known as a “pain clinic” and had authorization starting in 2009 to treat up to 30 patients with narcotics.

 

“Dr. Milan was overprescribing prescription pain medication to individuals for non-legitimate medical reasons. Her actions in overprescribing these pain killers and other controlled substances are believed to be linked to the deaths of multiple people,” said United States Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia William J. Ihlenfeld.

 

Ihlenfeld held a press conference this morning at the Bridgeport Municipal Complex. Ironically, during the conference Bridgeport Police Chief John Walker stepped away to take a cell phone call. As it turned out, the call was to confirm that drug task force agents had arrested Milan at roughly 10:45 a.m. between Fairmont and her Bridgeport practice, Ihlenfeld said.

 

“Basically, (she) was hiding behind a medical license in order to traffic in prescription pain killers. This is an important day and an important case for this area,” said Ihlenfeld.

 

Last month, a Fairmont neighbor of Milan was found dead in his home. According to Ihlenfeld, the neighbor was a patient of Milan’s. The criminal complaint alleges that the deceased had been prescribed by Milan large quantities of painkillers prior to his death. The complaint also alleges that a review of West Virginia State Health Department records conducted by agents show in 2010 and 2011 that three other patients died “as a result of overdoses from pharmaceuticals that she had prescribed.”

 

Milan actually responded to the house of the neighbor that passed away, according to Ihlenfeld. There she assisted at the scene of the death.

 

“She contacted the county medical examiner and advised the county medical examiner that he had died of a heart attack when in fact that was not the case. The complaint alleges that she misrepresented the cause of death of her neighbor and her patient; the same patient being someone who had been prescribed large quantities of pain killers prior to his death,” Ihlenfeld said.

 

Ihlenfeld said the deceased patient had not been to see Dr. Milan for three months prior to his death, but continued to receive prescription for Oxycodone and Morphine. Ihlenfeld said law requires patients to physically see a doctor before receiving those prescriptions.

 

“This goes into the theory that her practices were not legitimate,” said Ihlenfeld.

 

Currently, Milan is not charged with delivery causing death. That is a charge that can be filed, the attorney said.

 

The existing charges of conspiracy to distribute carries a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years, Ihlenfeld said. That could change if additional charges are added.

 

Milan was to appear before a federal magistrate judge this morning. After that, the Attorney’s office will have 30 days to seek an indictment of have a preliminary hearing.

 

“It’s possible that additional charges could be filed; in fact, very possible additional charges will be filed. What she stands faced with today and the penalties are just for today,” said Ihlenfeld.

 

Another issue Ihlenfeld addressed involved the number of patients Milan was authorized to treat. The U.S. Attorney said Milan was treating “more than twice that many” than Milan was authorized to treat for narcotics. A review of the State Board of Pharmacy, the members of the Greater Harrison Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force and other law enforcement officers showed that 37 of Milan’s patients were known by law enforcement to have involvement in illegally diverting prescription pills and medication.

 

Ihlenfeld said she was alleged to be prescribing pills to people “off the books.” Ihlenfeld said these were individuals who were not her patients, but that Milan was still prescribing pills to.

 

Bridgeport Police Chief John Walker, as well as Ihlenfeld, said the public was extremely helpful in pointing out the situation. Walker said he received maybe a dozen a calls personally from individuals throughout the community.

 

“This is Main Street Bridgeport where this happened,” said Walker when asked if any place was immune from any type of drug activity. “This was certainly a main supplier to people … This was a streamlined system that went straight to (the dealers) for narcotics that cause a number of issues.

 

“I’m just ecstatic over this,” Walker continued. “What even makes me happier is that I know it’s not over, but it’s going to be an ongoing investigation and I expect additional arrests to come from this.”

 

Walker said he wouldn’t be allowed to comment on whether other doctors were involved, but those who received drugs and dealt them “could be facing some charges.”

 

According to Ihlenfeld, the investigation initially focused on the practice of Milan due to an employee selling drugs in the parking lot of the practice, which is situated across the street from the Bridgeport Dairy Queen in the Exemplar Medical Building.

 

“The employee was actually selling prescription pain killers to an undercover police officer. That employee was charged and convicted in federal court,” said Ihlenfeld.

 

After the press conference, it was confirmed the individual convicted was Rita Watkins. Ihlenfeld said Watkins had a prior state drug conviction and her parole was revoked and ended up going to jail. She was arrested in October, 2012.

 

“That employee was replaced by her sister in the practice, who also has a felony drug conviction,” said Ihlenfeld.

 

The focus of the case turned from the employees to the large number of prescriptions being written thanks to a tip from a Harrison County pharmacist. Surveillance was done to confirm this allegation, Ihlenfeld said.

 

Eventually, federal search warrants were obtained and executed relating to the case. Four warrants were obtained for Milan’s Bridgeport office, her home, the home of the deceased neighbor and the home of one of Milan’s employees.

 

“A lot of additional information was obtained through the execution of those warrants,” said Ihlenfeld.

 

Multiple drugs were allegedly illegally prescribed per the charges. Schedule II narcotics may be Oxycodone and Morphine; Schedule III may include drugs such as Lortab, which contains Hydrocodone, while Schedule IV consists of a drug such as Xanax. Milan is alleged to have dispensed under prescription Hydrocodone, Lorazepam, amphetamines, Clonazepam, Quadrapax, Provigil, Morphine, Temazepam and others, according to Ihlenfeld.

 

The investigation with this practice started as earlier as June of last year. Ihlenfeld said the motivation for the crime was financial. He said he was not familiar with the amount of dollars involved with this case.

 

“There’s a lot of cash involved in these types of practices, generally speaking again,” said Ihlenfeld. “ … This isn’t the only place that this occurs, but it’s a big case for Bridgeport and this county.”

 

Along with Walker and Ihlenfeld, several other officials involved with the local task force were in attendance. Interim Clarksburg Police Chief Robbie Hilliard, Trooper First Class Kristy Adkins, DEA Resident-in-Charge for the State of West Virginia A.J. Galietti and U.S. Marshall Gary Gaskins were also part of today’s event.

 

Milan had patients beyond those she was treating in a drug-related capacity. Ihlenfeld said the files of hundreds of patients were seized. Because many patients will need those records, they can receive copies by sending a written request to the United States Attorney’s Office, P.O. Box 591, Wheeling, WV, 26003. Patients need to include full name, date of birth, address and phone number. The patient will be contacted to make pickup arrangements. A photo ID will be required.

 

Click HERE for the complete press conference video.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows U.S. Attorney Willian Ihlenfeld, foreground, and Bridgeport Police Chief John Walker during today's press conferene. Second photo shows Bridgeport Police removing files and other items from Dr. Edita Milan's office during the June 27 raid of her Main Street office. Third photo is of all the officials from today's press conference, while fourth photo shows several Bridgeport officers that attended today's event. Bottom photo shows Walker, right, during last month's search warrant that was served on Milan's office.