FAYETTE COUNTY, Ga. — A Drug Enforcement Administration agent said information uncovered in a raid at a psychiatric clinic Monday morning led to a raid on a doctor’s mansion.
Agents said they busted an illegal prescription drug operation, and Channel 2 Action News was there as investigators moved in.
A prosecutor said the Psycare LLC Clinic in Fayetteville continued to churn out prescriptions even while the psychiatrist whose name appeared on them, Dr. Ginari Price, was in the Fayette County Jail for DUI, fleeing, attempting to elude and more.
The doctor's co-workers, including her husband, Michael Price, have now joined her on the jail rolls.
DEA agent Chuvalo Truesdell said Saul Alter, Fayette County district attorney's investigator, learned what was going on with the prescriptions and reached out to the DEA, whose tactical diversion squad teamed with the district attorney, Sheriff's Office and Georgia Composite Medical Board and began an undercover investigation.
Deputies said Dr. Price helped her husband and two nurse practitioners practice medicine, even though they aren't licensed.
"What's the number of patients allegedly with illegitimate prescriptions because of this?" Channel 2's Mark Winne asked Alter.
"In excess of a thousand," Alter responded.
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DEA agents said the Prices' mansion was raided following the operation at Psycare LLC Clinic.
Warren Sellers, deputy chief assistant district attorney, said the couple, along with the two nurse practitioners, have been charged with four counts each, including unauthorized distribution and dispensation of controlled substances and practicing medicine without a license.
The nurse practitioners have been identified as Marie Pierre and Ngozi Okoro.
"I did nothing wrong," Okoro said.
A patient of Price told Winne the waiting room at her office was "usually always overcrowded." The patient indicated, however, her prescriptions were legitimate.
Tom Barton, one of Dr. Price's attorneys, said he anticipates a not-guilty plea to any new charges.
Truesdell said the Georgia Composite Medical Board was at the clinic Monday.
Cox Media Group
