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Volusia Doctor Ordered To Stop Practicing

PORT ORANGE, Fla. — A Volusia County doctor was ordered Tuesday to stop practicing at his clinic after investigators said he could be illegally distributing prescription pain medications. The Port Orange doctor is under investigation and he has a connection to a missing woman from the same city.

Dr. Ataur Rahman sat inside his Port Orange office Tuesday that investigators called a "pill mill." People from Volusia, Seminole, Flagler and Orange counties came there, investigators said, and for cash could get nearly any pain killer they wanted.

"During the last seven or eight months we've gotten complaints from everybody. We've gotten anonymous written complaints. We've gotten anonymous phone calls," Port Orange Police Chief Gerald Monahan said.

Police served search warrants not only at Rahman's office Tuesday on North Swallowtail Drive (see map), but also at his home, and they thoroughly searched his BMW for evidence before towing it away.

Rahman operated a cash-only business that had a sign up Tuesday saying it would be closed until further notice.

"We've also served search warrants at Regions Bank and at SunTrust Bank, as well," Monahan said.

WFTV learned Rahman also has a connection to Laurel Rogers; the 28-year-old, who disappeared in February, worked for Rahman for a few days.

Rogers was known to take prescription pills, because of her diagnosis of lupus, and Rogers' mother said Tuesday that Rahman used to bring her gifts to the house.

Rahman has not been charged with anything in the drug case or Rogers case. WFTV checked state records and found the Department of Health has already issued an emergency suspension of his medical license.

If anyone has any information, they are asked to contact Port Orange Police Department Special Investigations Unit Detective Sergeant Wayne Dorman at 386-506-5881 or Detective Willie Coco at 386-506-5895.

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