PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — A Panhandle doctor who faked his suicide and disappeared while waiting for a retrial on prescription drug and health care fraud charges has pleaded guilty to the charges.
Robert L. Ignasiak Jr. pleaded guilty Tuesday to 29 counts of illegally distribution of controlled substances, 12 counts of health care fraud and failing to appear for trial.
He was originally sentenced to 24 years and fined $1 million for overprescribing drugs at his Freeport clinic. Some of his patients died in part because of the drugs.
He won a new trial last year on appeal, then faked his suicide. Last month he was arrested in Coral Springs while handing out fliers for a pressure wash company.
The 58-year-old former doctor will be sentenced Jan. 14.
Source: The Associated Press
