Pill Mill Owner And Doctor Arrested On Charges Of Pill Trafficking And Manslaughter
MIAMI - The owner of a now defunct South Florida pain clinic and a former physician of the clinic are facing multiple charges stemming from the trafficking of oxycodone. Dr. Richard Vitalis and Christian Spaw, former owner of All Family Medical, were arrested and face racketeering, trafficking, conspiracy and manslaughter charges in connection with drug sales and purchases made while operating the Broward County pill mill.
According to an investigation by the Drug Enforcement (DEA) Miami Field Division, Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, and the Broward Sheriff’s Office, an All Family Medical patient died of a drug overdose three days after his 17th visit to the clinic.
DEA Special Agent in Charge A.D. Wright stated, "These serious charges hold Dr. Vitalis and Mr. Spaw accountable for their flagrant criminal actions that resulted in the death of a patient. The DEA wants to thank Ms. Bondi and Sheriff Israel for their partnership in our commitment to eradicate rogue doctors and pill mills from our communities and keep our citizens safe."
“We have made great strides to rid our state of the death and destruction caused by pill mills and we will not tolerate doctors or clinic owners abusing the trust we placed in them to sell massive amounts of dangerous drugs to patients that do not need them,” said Attorney General Bondi. “I applaud my Office of Statewide Prosecution, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Broward Sheriff’s Office for the great investigative work that led to these arrests.”
“These men were connected to one of the last rogue pain clinics shut down in Broward County. Through persistence and the collaborative efforts of local, state and federal agencies, I’m pleased to see the dedicated work of the investigators result in the prosecution of Dr. Richard Vitalis and Christian Spaw,” Broward Sheriff Scott Israel said.
Spaw is also facing related charges brought by State Attorney Michael Satz for, among other things, conspiracy to purchase 10,000 doses of oxycodone from an undercover sheriff’s deputy.
These charges are only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
