A Federal Grand Jury has returned an indictment charging a Freeport physician with health care fraud and unlawfully dispensing controlled substances. Dr. Robert L. Ignasiak, Jr. was arrested this morning in Freeport by federal, state, and local agents on a federal warrant charging him with 54 indictment based charges.

In a 54 count indictment, the Federal Grand Jury in Pensacola charged Ignasiak, 52, with the following:

1. fourteen counts of health care fraud;
2. two counts of dispensing controlled substances, including fentanyl, hydrocodone,
diazepam, chlonazepam, morphine, and alprazolam, the use of which resulted in the death of two persons; and
3. thirty-eight counts of unlawfully dispensing controlled substances including oxycodone (commonly known as OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan, Roxicodone, Endocet and Tylox); morphine (commonly known as Kadian, Avinza, and MS-Contin); fentanyl (commonly known as Duragesic); hydrocodone (commonly known as Lortab, Lorcet, Tussionex; alprazolam (commonly known as Xanax); diazepam (commonly known as Valium); clonazepam, (commonly known as Klonopin); and carisoprodol (commonly known as Soma).

The indictment alleges that Ignasiak, a licensed physician who owned and operated Freeport Medical Clinic, prescribed controlled substances to patients without determining a sufficient medical necessity for the prescription of these substances and in quantities and dosages that would cause patients to abuse and misuse the substances.

The indictment charges that Ignasiak prescribed controlled substances to patients knowing the patients were addicted to the substances, misusing the substances, or were "doctor shopping" and were requesting additional quantities of controlled substances for their drug habits. The indictment charges that the use of controlled substances dispensed by Ignasiak resulted in the death of two patients.

The charges carry jail terms of 20 years imprisonment, a possible life sentence, and a fine of $1 million per count. The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of Ignasiak=s property, including more than $1 million.

The indictment is the result of a four-year joint investigation by the North Florida Health Care Fraud Task Force, which is comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement and regulatory members.