Elderly Doctor, Receptionist Charged With Running Delaware County Pill Mill

Leaning on a cane for help, Dr. Steven Friedman slowly shuffled out of the Delaware County Courthouse on Friday morning.

His 79-year-old receptionist Margaret McGowan followed behind with the help of an attendant as she sat in her wheeled walker.

Instead of spending the morning healing the sick out of their Havertown, Pennsylvania medical practice, the duo stood in front of a judge to be arraigned on charges they illegally provided prescription painkillers to whoever walked into their office.

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan said an undercover investigation found the 74-year-old doctor and McGowan wrote prescriptions for narcotics Percocet and oxycodone, the sleep aid Ambien and Adderall, which is given to focus people with Attention Deficit Disorder.

Over the five-month long sting between June and October 2014, a detective was written several prescriptions for Percocet and Ambien without being examined, according to prosecutors. In one case, the DA said McGowan called the man a "good customer."

Friedman and McGowan face multiple charges including criminal conspiracy, illegal administration and violation of the Controlled Substances and Drugs Act.

They surrendered to authorities on Friday morning and were arraigned. They were released after posting $500,000 bail.

McGowan covered her face with her hood as she got into Friedman's car. Neither commented on the charges.

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