CLEARWATER, Fl. (WFLA) – A 56-year-old Clearwater man is in trouble with the law following his arrest Friday on a variety of charges including practicing medicine without a license.
Dr. Albert B. Chapman was booked into the Pinellas County Jail and released after posting a bond of $60,000. Investigators say the suspect is a former certified physician specializing in Osteopathic Medicine whose license was suspended for non-payment of school loans.
According to a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office report an investigation into Chapman’s activities began in June. He was arrested at his office in the 1200 block of Rogers St. in Clearwater.
The case was investigated by PCSO’s Narcotics Division, the Clearwater Police Department and the Florida Department of Health.
In addition to the practicing medicine without a license charge, Chapman is also facing one count of trafficking in Oxycodone and four counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud.
The report states Chapman’s license expired in March and the board of Osteopathic Medicine denied his renewal request in May. The DOH issued an emergency suspension order after learning about the unpaid loans.
In June detectives received information from the DOH that Chapman was still prescribing medication to patients even though his license was no longer valid.
The suspect allegedly forged prescriptions belonging to another doctor and filled them at a Clearwater pharmacy. Detectives determined that Chapman filled over 50 fraudulent prescriptions for five different patients between June and October,
One of the patients Chapman prescribed medications to is deceased the report states.
The investigation continues.
