Pubdate: Fri, 21 Feb 2003
Source: Sun News (Myrtle Beach, SC)
Copyright: 2003 Sun Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/sunnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/987
Note: apparent 150 word limit on LTEs
Author: Kenneth A. Gailliard
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)

BORDEAUX ORDERED TO GIVE $214,000 FOR ROLE IN SCAM

Oxycontin Case

Former Comprehensive Care and Pain Management Center doctor Deborah 
Bordeaux was ordered Thursday to forfeit about $214,000 for her role in 
illegally distributing narcotics, including OxyContin, at the defunct pain 
clinic.

Federal Judge C. Weston Houck ordered the judgment against Bordeaux during 
a hearing in Florence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Day said the decision was based on money the 
clinic made during the nearly three months she worked there.

Bordeaux earned a $30,060 salary during that time, according to testimony 
from Robert O'Brien, special agent for the Internal Revenue Service.

Authorities have seized property from Bordeaux and other doctors convicted 
on charges in a 93-count indictment that includes illegal distribution of 
controlled substances from the center.

A jury convicted Bordeaux Feb. 10, along with Drs. Michael Jackson and 
Ricardo Alerre.

Jackson and Alerre consented this week to forfeiture judgments of $265,000 
and $50,000, respectively.

The judgments go against each doctor's current and future assets.

Authorities said the forfeit-ures will total more than $1 million, about 
$650,000 they received from the pain center's former owner, Dr. Michael 
Woodward.

The money came from the sale of the business.

 From June 1997 to July 2001, the clinic took in more than $6 million, 
O'Brien said Thursday.

Medical records indicate about 3,000 patients visited the clinic.

According to witness testimony, many of them were drug pushers or abusers 
before they arrived.

Authorities said eight of the doctors and three employees who worked at 
Comprehensive Care were aware patients were getting narcotics after 
receiving cursory or no exams.

Seven of those involved have pleaded guilty, including Woodward, and one 
committed suicide after his guilty plea.

Eight await sentencing.