Montco Doctor Given Supervision For Opioid-Dealing Charges

NORRISTOWN, PA — A former Hatfield Township doctor will see eight years of court supervision after being charged with illegally prescribing opioids to drug-dependent patients, according to court records.

Lawrence Miller, 49, faced 51 counts related to the illegal activity, most of which were dropped, according to court records. He pleaded no contest to two charges of administering of controlled substances for which he was given three and five years of supervision, respectively.

A criminal complaint alleged that between June 2013 and June 2018, nine of Miller's patients, to whom he'd prescribed opioids and other drugs, had died.

In all, prosecutors dropped charges on one count of corrupt organizations, 29 counts of administering of controlled substances, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, 18 counts of sale of controlled substances to a dependent person.

See the criminal complaint here.

Investigators made use of two confidential informants in gathering information on Miller's practice. One told investigators that during an office visit, Miller didn't take any vitals, nor perform a physical exam, nor talked about any side effects, before increasing a Xanax prescription, the complaint says.

Miller offered the confidential informant membership in a "concierge" program, in which the patient could call or text him at any time and that there would be no wait at the clinic for members. This would cost $1,650 annually, the complaint says.

His DEA license has been suspended, the criminal docket says, and will be suspended throughout his supervision.