Cincinnati, Ohio (WKEF/WRGT) – Dr. Morris Brown, a Dayton doctor, is among 60 people facing charges in what authorities have announced as the largest prescription opioid law enforcement operation in history. The operation uncovered a network of illegal opioid distribution, with Dr. Brown identified as one of Ohio’s largest prescribers of opioids.
While the name of the doctor was initially withheld, an indictment revealed Dr. Brown as the owner of Dayton Pharmacy located at 301 First Street. Authorities claim Dr. Brown operated a pill mill out of his office’s waiting room, distributing approximately 1.75 million opioid pills over a two-year period.
Federal officials say the takedown involved 350,000 opioid prescriptions and 32 million pills, which were distributed across the Appalachian region, including Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and West Virginia. The operation targeted a range of medical professionals, including 31 doctors, 7 pharmacists, 8 nurse practitioners, and 7 other licensed individuals involved in the illegal opioid trade.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski stated, “If so-called medical professionals behave like drug dealers, the Department of Justice is going to treat them like drug dealers.”
Authorities noted that the operation has direct ties to the opioid epidemic, a crisis that claimed the lives of 72,000 Americans in 2017 alone. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Benjamin Glassman, called it “the public health and safety crisis of our life.”
In a statement, Dr. Brown’s son maintained his father’s innocence, describing him as a good Christian man. Despite the charges, authorities are committed to holding those responsible accountable, and ensuring support is available for those impacted by the opioid crisis.
The investigation highlights the growing issue of prescription fraud and opioid abuse, as law enforcement continues to combat the devastating impact of opioid addiction.
