Crime & Safety
Detroit Area Doctors Among 9 Charged In $28M Opioid Scheme: Feds
Officials said the opioid ring was operated out of an Oakland County health and medical services facility.
METRO DETROIT — Nine people, including three doctors, from across metro Detroit are facing charges in connection with illegally distributing opioids, according to a news release from federal officials.
The following nine individuals were charged with conspiracy to illegally distribute prescription drugs:
- Charles Wasson, 70, Orchard Lake
- Maurice Potts, 65, Detroit
- Bruce Kaplan, 83, Commerce Township
- Sharlene Dawson (aka Sharlene Crawford), 55, Detroit
- Desiree King, 41, Sterling Heights
- Lanise Gortman, 53, Warren
- Aaron Thomas, 42, Southfield
- Valecia Logan, 33, Detroit
- Antoine Arnold, 38, Mt. Clemens
Officials said Dawson, the owner of P&A Aftercare, located in Southfield, paid Wasson, Potts and Kaplan cash to prescribe Oxycodone, Percocet and Norco to "fake patients."
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Gortman, Thomas, Logan and Arnold recruited the "fake" patients, filled the prescriptions at area pharmacies and sold the drugs on the street, according to federal officials.
Officials said King worked the Southfield office's front desk and worked closely with the recruiters to fill the prescriptions.
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The group billed pharmacy benefit programs, including Medicare and Medicaid for the drugs, according to federal officials.
The scheme ran from June 2021 through September 2024, and resulted in roughly $28 million in fraudulent billings, according to federal officials.
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