Crime & Safety

Tucker 'Pill Mill' Busted Again

For the second time in as many weeks, authorities make arrests at Southern Health Management.

Southern Pain Management in Tucker, which was raided by Federal agents June 14, was targeted again Tuesday and a doctor was arrested, according to authorities.

Dr. Michael Assevero, a gynecologist, was charged with conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone during yesterday's raid and was taken away in handcuffs. "I'm just practicing good medicine," he said to a reporter. He remains in custody at the Dekalb County jail.

Federal drug enforcement agent Chuvalo Truesdell told WXIA-TV that the place reminded him of a crack house from the 1980s. "Drug dealers are drug dealers, whether it's a person who's on a corner dealing crack, or a clinician in a coat," said Truesdell. ""These are patients who know they can come to this particular place and score prescriptions."

Find out what's happening in Tuckerwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Nick Stabile, an employee at Southern Health Management - which is next to the DeKalb County Police headquarters - told CBS the D.E.A. is on a witch hunt. "We don't do anything wrong here, we're by the book," he said.

Owner Jeffrey Gonzalez is out on bond of $50,000 following his June 14 arrest. He told Tucker Patch at the time: "That dog and pony show they put on at my medical center was intended to do what it did, make us look guilty. So sad our patients had to endure that."

Find out what's happening in Tuckerwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The owner's mother, Pat Gonzalez, contacted Tucker Patch and said: "He has a genuine concern for those in pain due to accidents or medical conditions. There are so many who have had problems in finding doctors to treat them and prescribe the needed medication. He provided help for them at Southern Health Management that they so desperately needed."

Clinic patient Jen Phillips commented: "I hate this and I hate the stigma because a lot of valid patients are not getting help with chronic pain care. Not everyone is a pill head."

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