PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) -A multiyear investigation has led to the arrest Thursday of a 72-year-old doctor accused of running a pill mill and dealing in narcotics and opioids throughout Northwest Florida, authorities said Friday.
Dr. Elaine Sharp of Pensacola Beach is charged with murder, manslaughter and racketeering, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announce Friday night.
The FDLE began investigating in February 2021 after receiving complaints from several local pharmacists about large amounts of oxycodone being prescribed. Agents say that Sharp ran a pill mill out of her office in Gulf Breeze and several patients overdosed after taking drugs she prescribed.
Agents also arrested several suspects charged with selling drugs prescribed by Sharp. According to the FDLE, most suspects were prescribed 120 oxycodone pills a month with no legitimate medical need.
Sharp's charges include murder, manslaughter, conspiracy to commit racketeering, unlawfully prescribing for monetary gain, unlawfully prescribing not medically necessary, conspiracy-trafficking oxycodone 100 grams or more, conspiracy-trafficking hydromorphone 28 grams or more, conspiracy-trafficking hydrocodone 100 grams or more, and money laundering.
Charges: conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy-trafficking oxycodone 100 grams or more, conspiracy to obtain controlled substance not medically necessary, doctor shopping
Cheryl Tassin, 63, Milton
Charges: conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy-trafficking oxycodone 100 grams or more, conspiracy to obtain controlled substance not medically necessary
Jessica Michael, 43, Navarre
Charges: conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy-trafficking oxycodone 100 grams or more, conspiracy-trafficking hydromorphone 14 grams or more, conspiracy to obtain controlled substance not medically necessary
Kevin McLemore, 37, Pensacola
Charges: conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy-trafficking oxycodone 100 grams or more, conspiracy to obtain controlled substance not medically necessary
Mark Heath, 63, Pensacola
Charges: conspiracy to commit racketeering, healthcare kickback
Jenni Harrell, 48, Pensacola
Charges: conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy-trafficking oxycodone 100 grams or more, conspiracy to obtain controlled substance not medically necessary
Gary Eckard, 60, Pace
Charges: conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy-trafficking oxycodone 100 grams or more, conspiracy to obtain controlled substance not medically necessary, doctor shopping
Kristopher Desposito, 22, Pensacola
Charges: conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy-trafficking oxycodone 100 grams or more, conspiracy to obtain controlled substance not medically necessary
Shanna Castleberry, 39, Navarre
Charges: conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy-trafficking hydromorphone oxycodone 100 grams or more, conspiracy to obtain controlled substance not medically necessary
Shawn Winchester, 54, Pensacola
Charges: conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy-trafficking oxycodone 100 grams or more, conspiracy to obtain controlled substance not medically necessary
Authorities said still at large is Mickey Bowman, 53, of Pensacola, who faces charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy-trafficking oxycodone 100 grams or more, conspiracy to obtain controlled substance not medically necessary.
The Escambia and Santa Rosa county sheriff's offices and the Drug Enforcement Administration assisted in this case.