NORTHWEST FLORIDA (WKRG) — The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) arrested a Northwest Florida doctor and those who sold drugs prescribed by her on Thursday.
According to an FDLE news release, agents arrested 72-year-old Dr. Elaine Cecile Sharp, of Pensacola Beach, on murder, manslaughter and racketeering charges after a multiyear investigation of an illegal drug ring accused of dealing narcotics and opioids in Northwest Florida.
Dr. Sharp is also accused of unlawfully prescribing for monetary gain, unlawfully prescribing medications that were not medically necessary, conspiracy trafficking of oxycodone 100 grams or more, conspiracy trafficking of hydromorphone 28 grams or more, conspiracy trafficking of hydrocodone 100 grams or more, and money laundering.
FDLE began investigating in February 2021 after several area pharmacists complained about the large amounts of oxycodone being prescribed.
FDLE agents said Dr. Sharp ran a pill mill out of her physician’s office in Gulf Breeze, and several patients overdosed after taking drugs she prescribed.
“Shutting down this pill mill unquestionably made our community safer,” FDLE Pensacola Special Agent in Charge Chris Williams said. “We know this drug ring, led by Dr. Elaine Sharp, was a major contributor of illegal drugs flowing into our neighborhoods and even attracting drug dealers from throughout the Southeast looking for an easy way to obtain these drugs.”
Several suspects who sold drugs prescribed by Sharp were also arrested.
FDLE said most suspects sold 120 oxycodone pills monthly with no legitimate medical need.
Here is a list of the arrested suspects and their charges, according to FDLE:
- 58-year-old Tammy Zell of Gulf Breeze
- Conspiracy to commit racketeering
- Conspiracy-trafficking oxycodone 100 grams or more
- Conspiracy to obtain a controlled substance not medically necessary
- Doctor shopping
- 63-year-old Cheryl Tassin of Milton
- Conspiracy to commit racketeering
- Conspiracy-trafficking oxycodone 100 grams or more
- Conspiracy to obtain a controlled substance not medically necessary
- 43-year-old Jessica Michael of Navarre
- Conspiracy to commit racketeering
- Conspiracy-trafficking oxycodone 100 grams or more
- Conspiracy-trafficking hydromorphone 14 grams or more
- Conspiracy to obtain a controlled substance not medically necessary
- 37-year-old Kevin McLemore of Pensacola
- Conspiracy to commit racketeering
- Conspiracy-trafficking oxycodone 100 grams or more
- Conspiracy to obtain a controlled substance not medically necessary
- 63-year-old Mark Heath of Pensacola
- Conspiracy to commit racketeering
- Health care kickback
- 60-year-old Gary Eckard of Pace
- Conspiracy to commit racketeering
- Conspiracy-trafficking oxycodone 100 grams or more
- Conspiracy to obtain a controlled substance not medically necessary
- Doctor shopping
- 22-year-old Kristopher Desposito
- Conspiracy to commit racketeering
- Conspiracy-trafficking oxycodone 100 grams or more
- Conspiracy to obtain a controlled substance not medically necessary
- 39-year-old Shanna Castleberry
- Conspiracy to commit racketeering
- Conspiracy-trafficking hydromorphone oxycodone 100 grams or more
- Conspiracy to obtain a controlled substance not medically necessary
- 54-year-old Shawn Winchester of Pensacola
- Conspiracy to commit racketeering
- Conspiracy-trafficking oxycodone 100 grams or more
- Conspiracy to obtain a controlled substance not medically necessary
53-year-old Mickey Bowman of Pensacola is still at large, FDLE said. Bowman is accused of conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy-trafficking oxycodone 100 grams or more, and conspiracy to obtain controlled substances not medically necessary.
The Escambia County and Santa Rosa County sheriff’s offices and the Drug Enforcement Administration worked on the case, officials said.