Florida Pill Mill Doc Given 5 Plus Years in Prison

A South Florida doctor has been sentenced to more than five years in federal prison for his role in a major pill mill operation that illegally dispensed oxycodone and other painkillers.

Court documents show that 54-year-old Dr. Scott Becker of Pembroke Pines also must forfeit $470,000 in money and property that represents profits from his crime. Becker earlier pleaded guilty to drug charges and money laundering.

Prosecutors say Becker worked at a Dania Beach pain clinic owned by Vincent Colangelo, who ran six illegal pill mills in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Colangelo pleaded guilty to several federal charges in April 2012 and is imprisoned.

Court records show Becker prescribed more than 930,000 oxycodone pills while at the clinic, with 98 percent of his patients receiving oxycodone prescriptions.