Authorities return to Willow Grove urgent care clinic

Bob Brooks Image
Friday, November 3, 2017
Authorities return to Willow Grove urgent care clinic
Authorities return to Willow Grove urgent care clinic. Bob Brooks report during Action News at 4pm on November 3, 2017.

WILLOW GROVE, Pa. (WPVI) -- Authorities have returned to the Advanced Urgent Care clinic in Willow Grove, Montgomery County amid an ongoing federal investigation.

The Action Cam was there on Friday morning as a line of people waited to get inside, even before the doors opened.

"They line up there an hour before they open. 30 people are lined up there all the time," one nearby resident said. "It's ridiculous."

After it opened, Upper Moreland Township police came in and briefly shut it down to serve a search warrant. It has since been allowed to reopen.

They would not say what the warrant is for.

According to law enforcement and residents living nearby, this has been going for quite a while. Many suspect illegal activity is happening here.

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.

But one man we talked to insists everything is on the up-and-up.

"Your MRI's have to be straight, they verify with the hospital. They don't give you a lot of tablets, they only give you so many tablets. Nobody can just walk in here for a prescription, they would just turn them out," said Anthony Pasinato.

We asked Pasinato why he thinks authorities are focusing on this facility.

"Well because some people abuse it and they're coming down hard on doctors, period, in the pain management area," he said.

Records show that the owner of the Advanced Urgent Care, Dr. Mehdi Nikaparvfard, was recently arrested by the U.S. Marshals on a civil contempt charge.

When that happened officials say he threatened the deputies on his way to jail. He's now facing charges for that.

The DEA tells Action News there is an ongoing investigation, which is why the clinic is allowed to operate.

RELATED: Action News' original report on this story from 2015

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

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