A Gretna, La.-based physician accused of running a "pill mill" who earned nearly $14 million from his 10-year operation between has surrendered his medical license, according to the DEA.
Here are seven things to know.
1. The DEA has been investigating Wayne Celestine, MD, for years. Dr. Celestine owned and operated Integrity Pain Management Clinic as the sole practitioner.
2. DEA New Orleans Field Division's Tactical Diversion Squad received a tip that Dr. Celestine made cash deposits of over $414,000 at banks between January and November 2012 to circumvent federal reporting requirements.
3. Dr. Celestine only accepted cash for IPMC visits for many years and only recently began accepting credit and debit cards and money orders.
4. TDS investigators found Dr. Celestine prescribed large amounts of federally controlled substances. Between December 2013 and August 2016, TDS agents conducted several confidential source buys from IPMC. During the buys, Dr. Celestine prescribed the confidential sources controlled substances for no medical reason; the agency deemed his actions outside the course of legitimate medical practice.
5. An undercover TDS agent also successfully obtained a prescription intended for a confidential source without IPMC or the confidential source confirming that the agent was supposed to pick up the prescription.
6. Patients traveled up to three hours to be seen by Dr. Celestine at IPMC and were observed lining up outside of the clinic on several occasions.
7. On Feb. 22, 2018, federal search and seizure warrants were executed on four locations in the New Orleans area, including IPMC and three residences associated with Dr. Celestine. Dr. Celestine's bank accounts, vehicles and other assets were seized, totaling a value of approximately $1.5 million dollars.
More articles on supply chain:
NN Inc. completes Bridgemedica acquisition — 3 insights
Cardinal Health not worried about Amazon's entry into healthcare — 4 things to know