TUCKER, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Investigators with the DeKalb Drug Enforcement Agency arrested a doctor Tuesday suspected of over prescribing prescription pain killers to his patients.
Dr. Michael Assevero was taken into custody and charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone from his office, Southern Health Management, in Tucker. The facility was visited last month by investigators, and the owner was arrested. Assevero was detained and questioned, but not arrested until Tuesday.
As he was escorted into a DeKalb County police vehicle, Assevero was asked for a comment on his situation, to which he responded, "I'm just practicing good medicine."
Special Agent Chuvalo Truesdell of the D.E.A. had a different opinion.
"Drug dealers are drug dealers, whether it's a person who's on a corner dealing crack, or a clinician in a coat," said Truesdell.
An office employee at Southern Health Management said the D.E.A. is on a witch hunt.
"We don't do anything wrong here, we're by the book," said Nick Stabile. "People don't come here if they're remarketing medication, because they would never get enough to justify the visit."
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