Feds: Dr. pushed pills for profit

PERKINS TWP. — Federal attorneys claim a doctor, whose Sandusky-area office was raided Wednesday by FBI agents, "fueled and profited" from the drug epidemic.The U.S. district court released some documents in connection with Dr. Gregory Gerber, a Marblehead resident.In one complaint, federal agents claim Gerber issued more than 4,800 prescriptions for powerful opioids and other controlled substances "highly prone to abuse.""Ignoring his oath to do no harm, Dr. Gerber instead fed his patients' addiction and caused thousands of pills of opioids and other controlled substances to be illegally dispensed," the court filing states.The government also accused Gerber of various other violations, including:• "Issuing prescriptions that had no legitimate medical purpose and fell outside the usual course of professional medical practice"• "Accepting kickbacks from Insys Therapeutics Inc. in the form of speaker fees to promote Subsys, a form of fentanyl, a powerful opioid that is 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin and 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, approved solely to treat breakthrough cancer pain"• "Issuing prescriptions that had no legitimate medical purpose and fell outside the usual course of professional medical practice"A related affidavit, filed by a confidential informant, who's also a former patient of Gerber's, indicated he overprescribed her "more medication than (she) had previously been prescribed."The woman also claimed Gerber inappropriately touched her. Gerber also allegedly sent the woman photographs of himself in his underwear and at least one other showing his genitals."After telling Dr. Gerber that I was not interested in having a relationship with him, his office called me to come in for a pill count," according to the informant, referencing how many pills are left in person's current prescription. "At the time, I was out of town, and Dr. Gerber knew I was out of town. I was discharged from Dr. Gerber's practice after missing the pill count."Another document in Gerber's court records shows a 2013 coroner's verdict out of Huron County. The document states a 66-year-old man died as a result of abused prescription medication.Additionally, Wal-Mart's corporate offices sent Gerber a letter, dated May 25, 2018, about how the retail corporation, along with Sam's Club, "will no longer be able to fill prescriptions that you write for controlled substances. In reviewing your controlled substance prescribing patterns, and other factors, we have determined that we will not be able to continue filling your controlled substance prescriptions."Wednesday's raidAgents on Wednesday took documents and materials from Gerber's office at the New Horizons Medical Center between VacationLand Federal Credit Union and the former KBI plant. He's listed as a specialist for physical medicine and rehabilitation."Everything is under seal. There is nothing else that can be released at this time," FBI spokeswoman Vicki Anderson said.Anderson did inform the Register that Gerber has not been charged. When asked if she anticipates any charges, Anderson said, "It's an ongoing investigation."She couldn't provide a timeline for when additional information could become available.Gerber, according to Cleveland.com, received $175,000 between 2013 and 2016 from an Arizona-based pharmaceutical company to illegally promote a liquid form of fentanyl to treat pain in cancer patients.A connection with Bassett's?Also on Wednesday, Bassett's Market in Port Clinton made a statement on the company's Facebook page about a similar raid occurring there.The grocery store "was the subject of a search by agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Ohio Board of Pharmacy. We have been advised this is part of an ongoing investigation into a physician and that neither we nor any of our employees are under suspicion."One website, npino.com, lists Jacqueline Gerber as the Bassett's pharmacy's point of contact. She's married to Gregory. Ottawa County auditor records show the two share a home on Lucien Drive in Lakeside-Marblehead.On Tuesday, the FBI raided multiple locations — including Catawba Dental on Catawba Island and a 658 Jackson Drive in Port Clinton near the high school — as part of a federal probe. Documents and materials seized in those cases are also sealed.Past issues with the lawWednesday's raid is not the first time Gerber has faced legal issues.Most notably, in 2011, Dr. Gregory Gerber allegedly threatened to bring a gun inside his former workplace, NOMS, regarding a dispute with a fellow employee about payment.Officers seized his .38-caliber loaded handgun, found in his vehicle, confiscated his concealed-carry permit and charged him with inducing panic.Sandusky Municipal Court records show a judge dropping Gerber's charge and dismissing the case.Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.Dr. Gregory GerberThe FBI on Wednesday executed a search warrant at 2819 Hayes Ave. (Ohio 4) and seized documents from Dr. Gregory Gerber's office.