Florida doctor arrested and accused of running pill mill

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) – A multi-year investigation led to the arrest Thursday of a 72-year-old doctor accused of running a pill mill and trafficking 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 announced Friday evening.

The FDLE began investigating in February 2021 after several local pharmacists received complaints about prescribing large amounts of oxycodone. Agents say Sharp ran a pill mill out of her Gulf Breeze office and several patients overdosed after taking the medications she prescribed.

Officers also arrested several suspects accused of selling drugs prescribed by Sharp. According to FDLE, most of the suspects were prescribed 120 oxycodone pills per month without any medical need for it.

The charges against Sharp include murder, manslaughter, conspiracy to commit racketeering, unlawful prescription for monetary gain, unlawful prescription of a medically unnecessary drug, conspiracy to traffic oxycodone in an amount of 100 grams or more, conspiracy to traffic hydromorphone in one amount of 28 grams or more and conspiracy to traffic in hydrocodone in an amount of 100 grams or more and money laundering.

Others arrested and their charges include:

Tammy Zell58, Gulf Breeze

Charges: Conspiracy to commit extortion, conspiracy to traffic in oxycodone in an amount of 100 grams or more, conspiracy to obtain narcotics not medically necessary, doctor visits

Cheryl Tassin63, Milton

Charges: Conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to traffic in oxycodone in an amount of 100 grams or more, conspiracy to obtain controlled substances not medically necessary

Jessica Michael43, Navarre

Charges: Conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to traffic oxycodone 100 grams or more, conspiracy to traffic hydromorphone 14 grams or more, conspiracy to obtain controlled substances not medically necessary

Kevin McLemore37, Pensacola

Charges: Conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to traffic in oxycodone in an amount of 100 grams or more, conspiracy to obtain controlled substances not medically necessary

Mark Heath63, Pensacola

Charges: conspiracy to commit racketeering, health care bribery

Jenni Harrell48, Pensacola

Charges: Conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to traffic in oxycodone in an amount of 100 grams or more, conspiracy to obtain controlled substances not medically necessary

Gary Eckard60, speed

Charges: conspiracy to commit extortion, conspiracy to traffic in oxycodone in an amount of 100 grams or more, conspiracy to obtain narcotics not medically necessary, doctor's visits

Kristopher Desposito22, Pensacola

Charges: Conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to traffic in oxycodone in an amount of 100 grams or more, conspiracy to obtain controlled substances not medically necessary

Shanna Castleberry39, Navarre

Charges: Conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to traffic in hydromorphone oxycodone 100 grams or more, conspiracy to obtain controlled substances not medically necessary

Shawn Winchester54, Pensacola

Charges: Conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to traffic in oxycodone in an amount of 100 grams or more, conspiracy to obtain controlled substances not medically necessary

Authorities said it was still at large Mickey Bowman53, of Pensacola, who faces charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to traffic in oxycodone in an amount of 100 grams or more, and conspiracy to obtain controlled substances not medically necessary.

The Escambia and Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Offices and the Drug Enforcement Administration assisted in this case.

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