Advanced Urgent Care clinics raided in Philadelphia and Montgomery County

Bob Brooks Image
Monday, October 23, 2017
Several PA Urgent Care facilities raided Monday
Several PA Urgent Care facilities raided Monday: Bob Brooks Reports on Action News at 4 p.m., October 23, 2017

NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Federal and local authorities have raided at least two Advanced Urgent Care clinics in our area.

One location is at Grant Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard in Northeast Philadelphia, while the other is in Willow Grove, Montgomery County.

The same Advanced Urgent Care in Willow Grove was raided in July 2015.

In that case, federal agents were looking into whether the facilities were illegally selling prescriptions.

The Drug Enforcement Administration raided at least seven Advanced Urgent Care facilities in Pennsylvania on Thursday including Philadelphia locations.

DEA agents along with members of the FBI removed boxes of evidence from the facilities and covered the glass doors from sight on Monday.

Officials said a doctor is at the center of the current investigation. A records search indicates both facilities are owned by a Dr. Mehdi Nikparvarfard.

Nikparvarfard is currently in federal custody, arrested back in August by the US Marshals on a civil contempt charge.

Agents said when he was being transferred from his practice to a US Marshals field office he made threats against the deputies and now he is facing additional charges.

Some patients were stunned by recent developments but some community members were not surprised.

"I'm not going to go back ever," said Stacy Holland, a patient at the Northeast office for 2 years. Holland was upset that he is now left without a place to fill his prescriptions.

"I don't know what is going on right now," he said. "We're not getting any answers and they did take a lot of money from us."

A woman who identified herself only as Mary said she has frequently seen lines of people waiting outside in the morning for the office to open.

"My concern is they were selling drugs out of the facility," she said. "Typically you won't see lines of people outside [of a doctor's office] before opening."

Federal and local authorities are raiding at least two Advanced Urgent Care centers in our area. Bob Brooks reports during Action News at Noon on October 23, 2017.

----------

Send a breaking news alert
Report a correction or typo
Learn more about the 6abc apps