Federal opioid task force raids Westmoreland medical offices

Federal agents raided a medical practice in Irwin on Thursday afternoon, surprising patients arriving for appointments.

“I started to go up into the parking lot and I seen a police officer and a DEA agent and I was like, ‘Wow that's kind of weird,’” said one patient who didn't wish to be identified.

The raid targeted at Irwin Family Care Center on Spruce Street.

“The DEA agent met me and asked me why I was there,” said the patient. “And I said I had an appointment and …. he asked which doctor and he said, ‘They're closed, you'll have to reschedule.’”

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In Greensburg, workers near the business's second location told us agents carried out boxes Thursday morning from Primary Health and Wellness Center.

Channel 11 found a sign on the door saying the office was closed for the day.

There are several doctors in the practice, so it's unclear who is being investigated. But patients say they're surprised to hear about the raid.

“I have a hard time getting a simple prescription filled, like vitamin C,” said the patient. “I can't even get that filled without going through hoops, so I'm kind of shocked, yes."

We've confirmed it's the second case in our area for agents with the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit.

Earlier this month, Channel 11 was there when agents from that unit raided the Richland Township office of Dr. Andrzej Zielke and his home in Allison Park.

On Thursday, he was indicted on federal charges, accused of running a pill mill.

Channel 11 reached out to the U.S. Attorney's Office about Thursday's raids.

A spokesperson said agents "were serving a federal search warrant at the Irwin office on Spruce Street as part of an ongoing criminal investigation."

“I'm glad to see they're actually starting to take steps to crack down on these doctors, because that's where it all begins, is with prescription medication," said one patient.

All of this took place the same day President Donald Trump declared the opioid crisis a national health emergency, allowing the federal government to better deploy its current resources to fight addiction and assist addicts in finding help.

“If we can teach young people, and people generally, not to start, it’s really, really easy not to take ‘em,” he said.

Cox Media Group