CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart announced Tuesday night 29 additional charges against the owners, managers and physicians of HOPE Clinic.
A grand jury handed down a 69-count indictment last month against 12 people associated with the pain management clinic, accusing them of operating a “pill mill” and distributing oxycodone for non-medical use.
Offices of the Hitech Opioid Pharmacovigilance Expertise Clinic were in Beaver, Beckley and Charleston, as well as Wytheville, Virginia.
“The additional 29 charges were necessary as a result of the facts underlying this terrible case,” Stuart said in a statement. “A physician’s first oath is to ‘do no harm,’ but sadly when physicians do not uphold this oath, a lot of irrevocable harm is done.”
All defendants are additionally charged with conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances outside of the professional practice.
The clinics are connected to two deaths.