A foot doctor in Sandy Springs and her office manager were indicted on federal charges in connection with prescribing and distributing narcotic pain pills, officials said Thursday.
The Dec. 21 indictment comes after Dr. Arnita Avery-Kelly’s office was raided by DEA agents in April, U.S Attorney’s Office spokesman Bob Page said in a news release.
The indictment alleges she and office manager Brenda Lewis operated a podiatry clinic as a front to prescribe narcotics.
VIDEO: Federal agents raid Sandy Springs doctor's office
Avery-Kelly and Lewis allegedly prescribed addictive opioids, such as fentanyl and oxycodone, for those without any legitimate medical need.
During a nine-month period between December 2014 and August 2015, Avery-Kelly allegedly prescribed more than 116,500 oxycodone 30 mg pills, 41,800 hydromorphone 8 mg pills and 400 fentanyl patches.
In April 2016, when agents executed a federal search warrant at Avery-Kelly’s Sandy Springs office, she voluntarily surrendered her DEA registration that permitted her to prescribe controlled substances.
DEA agents called the alleged behavior reckless.
U.S. Attorney John Horn said addiction to powerful prescription opioids continues to take a daily toll on many members of our community. He said acts such as these destroy the public’s trust in medical professionals.
“It is sad commentary when persons in the medical community abuse their positions of trust to hide behind the veil of legitimacy to commit criminal acts,” Agent Daniel Salter said. “The reckless distribution of pharmaceuticals results in addiction and death.”
