Crime & Safety
5 More Extortion Counts Filed Against Pain Management Clinic Director
A Tarpon Springs director of a pain management clinic is accused of extorting sexual favors from patients for negative drug tests.
TARPON SPRINGS, FL — The former manager of the Phoenix Medical Pain Management Clinic in Tarpon Springs is facing more charges of extorting sexual favors for pain management drugs.
Christopher Ferguson, 52, was arrested Monday by Tarpon Springs police on five more counts of extortion. According to police, he is accused of telling patients that their drug screens came back positive, but he would "fix" the results in exchange for sexual favors.
Ferguson was originally arrested on Jan. 12 when a victim accused him of extorting sex from her. Since then, five more victims have come forward, and Tarpon Springs police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency have been investigating Ferguson for months.
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Ferguson is now facing five counts of extortion and two counts of attempted sexual battery.
Police say they are continuing to take complaints from former patients. Anyone who feels she was victimized should contact Tarpon Springs Police Detective Lara Scarpati at 727-938-2849.
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See related story: Pain Clinic Manager Accused Of Extorting Patient For Sex
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