A local doctor is under investigation for possible fraud and the illegal distribution of prescription drugs. He told Action News Jax that he is innocent.
"Just an uncomfortable feeling overall with the environment we see around here," an attorney, who works in the same plaza as the doctor, said.
The man, who works at a law firm in the same plaza as Dr. Mel Tilak, said for the past year and a half, he has noticed strange people going into the doctor’s office.
"I would describe some of the people as shady-looking characters sitting around the parking lot, loitering," the man said.
On Wednesday, a closed sign was on the door at Avenues Internal Medicine, Spine and Pain Clinic at 10175 Fortune Parkway. Officers were going in and out of the office with boxes.
A local doctor is under investigation for possible fraud & distributing prescription drugs illegally. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/ermegl5kFR
— Danielle Avitable (@Danielle_NBC4) October 5, 2017
An officer tells me his wife who works in the office next to his is also being questioned @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/PCO9bTsbv0
— Danielle Avitable (@Danielle_NBC4) October 5, 2017
“I didn't think something like that would happen in a plaza like this," Nita Kanji said.
A Jacksonville police officer gave Action News Jax a note stating that the raid was part of a joint investigation related to health care fraud and possible illegal distribution of prescribed controlled substances and that search warrants were served at both office locations, in Jacksonville and Middleburg.
"I think management of locations like this should stay on top of things a little bit more and be aware of the kind of businesses they have," the attorney said.
Kelly Rosa said her daughter has been a patient on the pediatric side for about seven years and she is prescribed a controlled substance.
"They've had her do urine tests to make sure she's the one taking it and I’m not, not giving it to her," Rosa said.
While Action News Jax was at his Middleburg office, we watched the doctor and his wife leave out a side door.
Action News Jax reporter Danielle Avitable caught up with Tilak at his home.
"Do you maintain your innocence?" Avitable asked.
"Yes," Dr. Tilak said.
We also asked him if he had anything to say to his patients.
"The charges will be whatever they are investigating. I should do fine," Tilak said.
This is an ongoing investigation.
Two #Jacksonville doctor's offices raided. This note signed by @JSOPIO was left on one of the doors https://t.co/nXYKxUhKKO pic.twitter.com/ZWuQPoO52j
— ActionNewsJax (@ActionNewsJax) October 4, 2017
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Patients found this note on their doctor's office door as JSO and several other agencies raided two locations in the Jacksonville area:
Posted by Action News Jax on Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Officials raid 2 doctor's offices in the #Jacksonville area on suspicion of health care fraud, illegal distribution of controlled substances pic.twitter.com/Nz03IGo9CZ
— Brittney Donovan (@brittneyANjax) October 4, 2017
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