Georgia Doctor Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Operating Pill-Mill Clinics

BRUNSWICK, GA – CLEVELAND J. ENMON, 36, of Decatur, Georgia, who was convicted by a federal jury of over 90 counts of drug distribution offenses for his role in prescribing hundreds of thousands of pain medications for no legitimate medical purpose, was sentenced last month to 20 years in prison by U. S. Chief District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood.

According to the evidence presented at trial and at the sentencing hearing, ENMON was a licensed physician in California and Georgia since in or about 2005.  In May 2011, ENMON began working at Brunswick Wellness, a “pill mill” located in Brunswick, Georgia.  During a two-month period while working at Brunswick Wellness, ENMON wrote prescriptions to thousands of people from all over the Eastern United States, from Maine to Florida, for no legitimate medical purpose.  Most of these “patients” were drug dealers or drug addicts.  For writing these unlawful prescriptions, ENMON was paid almost $70,000 by the owners of Brunswick Wellness.

After agents of the DEA executed search warrants at Brunswick Wellness in July 2011, and shut it down, ENMON opened up his own “pill mill” in Jesup, Georgia, known as Ocean Care, where he continued to write prescriptions for massive amounts of controlled substances for no legitimate medical purpose.  Before Ocean Care was shut down in December 2011, ENMON raked in almost $500,000 for writing these bogus prescriptions, some of which ENMON used to buy himself a yellow Ferrari Spyder.  The DEA later seized the Ferrari, along with tens of thousands of dollars from bank accounts in ENMON’s name.

At ENMON’s trial, numerous patients, employees, other doctors, and members of the Brunswick and Jesup communities testified about ENMON’s criminal conduct at both Brunswick Wellness and Ocean Care.  The trial testimony showed that ENMON would issue prescriptions to virtually anyone who was willing to pay him $350 fee for a prescription.  At least one patient testified that she “paid” for her prescription by arranging for a prostitute to provide services to ENMON.  Other evidence showed that ENMON even prescribed massive amounts of prescription medications to a pregnant woman, who later gave birth to a baby born addicted to pain medications.

In December 2013, after four days of testimony, a federal jury convicted ENMON of 92 counts of Conspiracy to Unlawfully Dispense Controlled Substances, Unlawful Dispensation of Controlled Substances, and Money Laundering.  ENMON has been in the custody of the United States Marshals since before trial in this matter.

ENMON is the fifth and final defendant convicted in connection with the investigation of the Brunswick Wellness and Ocean Care pill mills.  Other convicted included:

• Ronald R. Colandrea, of Miami, Florida, who was the owner of Brunswick Wellness, and who is now serving 7 years in prison and was required to forfeit more than $500,000 in cash and vehicles;
• Natalie Anderson, of Jesup, Georgia, who was the manager of Brunswick Wellness, and who is now serving 5 years in prison;
• Dr. Dennis Momah, of Portland, Oregon, who was another doctor at Brunswick Wellness, and who surrendered his medical license and is now serving 3 years in prison; and,
• Dr. Bruce Tetalman, of Augusta, Georgia, who was also a doctor at Brunswick Wellness, and who surrendered his medical license and is now serving 5 years of probation.

  
United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver stated, “Cleveland Enmon was a drug dealer in a white coat who chose a Ferrari over the welfare of patients.  ‘Pill Mill’ doctors, office managers, and owners who think about setting up shop in the Southern District of Georgia should know this: the cost of pushing your poison in our communities is a federal prison cell.”

In addition to the prison sentence, Chief Judge Wood ordered that ENMON serve 5 years of supervised release upon release from prison.  Tarver noted that there is no parole in the federal system.

The case was investigated by the DEA, the Glynn-Brunswick Narcotics Enforcement Team; and Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorneys Brian T. Rafferty and Jeffrey J. Buerstatte prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.  For additional information, please contact First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547.