An Orlando doctor, who law enforcement officers say, prescribed illegal drugs to a patient who later died, has been arrested.
Dr. Ibem Borges, 53, and his wife Wanda I. Otero, 54, of 17230 Cypress Preserve Pkwy., Orlando, were arrested Monday. Borges is charged with one count of manslaughter, three counts of trafficking oxycodone, racketeering, and conspiracy to commit racketeering. His wife, Otero is charged with racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, and structuring transactions to evade the reporting requirement, Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents said.
Agents began investigating Borges after it appeared that the family practices he owned in Orange and Osceola counties were operating unlawful “pill mills.”
In 2013, search warrants were served on Borges’ offices and a home owned by the doctor. During the investigation, patient records and undercover office visits revealed patients were routinely prescribed controlled substances, regardless of patient needs.
Investigators say Borges was responsible for the death of one of his patients after the patient overdosed on narcotics prescribed by him. The narcotics were prescribed without a legitimate medical purpose and dangerous to the health of the patient, authorities say.
Borges and Otero were booked into the Orange County Jail.
Borges is being held on a $400,000 bond. Otero’s bond has been set at $200,000.
