Turkia Mullin's doctor brother facing federal charges
Posted:
Updated:
By Charlie LeDuff Fox 2 News
DETROIT (WJBK) -- You remember Turkia Awada Mullin, Bob Ficano's right hand gal who is caught up in that federal corruption probe. Now there are more problems for the Awada family because her brother Sam Awada was arrested at an office raided in Warren on allegations that he was running a drug ring selling prescriptions for cash.
Dr. Awada was charged in federal court on Wednesday with unlawful distribution of controlled substances and conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud.
They allege that the doctor performed unnecessary medical procedures, defrauding Medicare of millions of dollars, and that the doctor wrote prescriptions for pain killers to people without legitimate medical conditions in exchange for cash -- a little hustle that netted him about $50,000 a month. Finally, they say he billed the government for treatments on patients who were dead.
"He'd give you whatever you'd ask for?" I asked patient Tracy Wilczak.
"Basically," she answered.
"What did you ask him for?" I further asked.
"Vicoden, narco, you know, basics," she responded.
What happened to all that money? The feds allege that Awada spent some of it on his new building and that he may have shipped a storage container filled with cash to Lebanon.
"Those are false allegations and they're preposterous and baseless," Awada told me.
Awada was released on $10,000 cash, forced to give up his passport and forbidden from prescribing medication.
Friday, June 7 2013 5:49 PM EDT2013-06-07 21:49:09 GMT
Secret surveillance allegations. Fudged murder statistics. Overworked, demoralized, ill-equipped, underpaid and disrespected officers forced to play purse snatcher. Can the new chief succeed in the face of such dysfunction?
Allegations of secret surveillance of the civilian police commissioner. Fudged murder statistics. Overworked, demoralized, ill-equipped, underpaid and disrespected police officers forced to play purse snatcher. Can the new chief, James Craig, succeed in the face of such dysfunction?
Thursday, June 6 2013 11:39 PM EDT2013-06-07 03:39:12 GMT
A stunt designed to test Detroiters' attention to detail went real bad, real quick. The experiment had an officer posing as a purse snatcher. Not factored into the scenario was an FBI agent who wasn't in on the plan.
A stunt designed to test Detroiters' attention to detail went real bad, real quick. The experiment had a Detroit police officer posing as a purse snatcher. Not factored into the scenario was an FBI agent who wasn't in on the plan.
Monday, June 3 2013 9:49 PM EDT2013-06-04 01:49:36 GMT
The new, half-finished Wayne County Jail may never be completed. Fox 2's Charlie LeDuff says the project is way over budget, and cost overruns could doom the nearly $200 million project.
The new, half-finished Wayne County Jail may never be completed. Fox 2's Charlie LeDuff says the project is way over budget, and cost overruns could doom the nearly $200 million project.
Monday, June 3 2013 6:24 AM EDT2013-06-03 10:24:23 GMT
I'd love to have a gorilla. Then I could have people over and say "Hey, check out my gorilla." A story about three Detroit jewels: The DIA, The Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle.
I'd love to have a gorilla. Then I could have people over and say "Hey, check out my gorilla." A story about three Detroit jewels: The DIA, The Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle.
Charlie LeDuff: Off The ChainCharlie LeDuff: Off The ChainMore>>
Monday, June 3 2013 6:24 AM EDT2013-06-03 10:24:23 GMT
I'd love to have a gorilla. Then I could have people over and say "Hey, check out my gorilla." A story about three Detroit jewels: The DIA, The Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle.
I'd love to have a gorilla. Then I could have people over and say "Hey, check out my gorilla." A story about three Detroit jewels: The DIA, The Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle.
Friday, May 3 2013 6:10 PM EDT2013-05-03 22:10:10 GMT
LeDuff: Let me offer a short list of things acting Bob Mayor Warfield can accomplish in his few remaining days in office. Things that could cement his legacy as one of Detroit's greats.
LeDuff: Let me offer a short list of things acting Bob Mayor Warfield can accomplish in his few remaining days in office. Things that could cement his legacy as one of Detroit's greats.
Sunday, April 21 2013 9:33 AM EDT2013-04-21 13:33:35 GMT
Coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings has been equally breathless and embarrassing. Spot reports from media outlets who once prided themselves on accuracy and reliability have been little better than Twitter feeds.
Coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings has been equally breathless and embarrassing. Spot reports from media outlets who once prided themselves on accuracy and reliability have been little better than Twitter feeds.
Monday, April 15 2013 7:21 AM EDT2013-04-15 11:21:31 GMT
I went to the dentist Friday morning and got my tooth drilled. My head was numb from the Novocain. I needed a place to hide where nobody would notice. I found it: Detroit city hall!
I went to the dentist Friday morning and got my tooth drilled. My head was numb from the Novocain. I needed a place to hide where nobody would notice. I found it: Detroit city hall!
Friday, April 5 2013 8:43 PM EDT2013-04-06 00:43:42 GMT
Unknown to the citizens, the police officers and even the emergency manager himself, Interim Detroit Police Chief Chester Logan was quietly conferred full chieftain status.
Unknown to the citizens, the police officers and even the emergency manager himself, Interim Detroit Police Chief Chester Logan -- as he has been called for the past five months since Chief Ralph Godbee was bounced from office -- was quietly conferred full chieftain status.
Monday, April 1 2013 9:07 AM EDT2013-04-01 13:07:47 GMT
Emmett Moten owns the Hotel Fort Shelby in Detroit. He owes $170,000 in back property taxes. He has until Monday at 5 p.m. to pay a portion of the back taxes or face foreclosure.
Emmett Moten owns the Hotel Fort Shelby in Detroit. He owes $170,000 in back property taxes. He has until Monday at 5 p.m. to pay a portion of the back taxes or face foreclosure.
Monday, March 25 2013 9:52 AM EDT2013-03-25 13:52:46 GMT
Imagine Captain Edward Smith of the Titanic summoning his pursers to the wheelhouse after his ill-fated ship struck the iceberg. "Quickly gentlemen!" he shouts. "Rearrange the deck chairs. Perhaps no one will notice!"
Imagine Captain Edward Smith of the Titanic summoning his pursers to the wheelhouse after his ill-fated ship struck the iceberg. "Quickly gentlemen!" he shouts. "Rearrange the deck chairs. Perhaps no one will notice!"
Monday, March 18 2013 10:12 AM EDT2013-03-18 14:12:24 GMT
Many people are concerned about Belle Isle's future. The EFM is promising not to make any hasty decisions and to review the numbers first, but that could be a problem. There is no Belle Isle budget.
Now that Detroit has an emergency financial manager, a lot of people are concerned about the future of Belle Isle. Kevyn Orr is promising not to make any hasty decisions and to look over the numbers first, but that could be a problem. There is no Belle Isle budget.
