Walton County Sheriff's Office wins 2009 National Investigation Award

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office is one of ten law enforcement agencies’ nationwide to be recognized for its participation in the “successful” prosecution of Dr. Robert Ignasiak, Jr.  The Executive Director of the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association, Louis Saccocio, made the presentation at that agency’s investigation of the year award ceremony in Orlando, Florida.

Earlier this year, the Freeport physician was sentenced in Federal Court to 24-years-and-three months “behind bars”.  He is also facing a $1 million dollar fine.  A Federal Jury convicted Dr. Ignasiak on 43 charges of prescribing pain medications to patients in quantities where they would unknowingly become dependent, or addicted.  That dependency resulted in the death of two persons.

During the four-year investigation, former Walton County Sheriff’s Investigators Will Curtis and Marvin Williford were part of the North Florida Health Care Fraud Task Force.  In September, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, Thomas Kirwin, also recognized Curtis and Williford for their efforts’ in the four-year investigation of Dr. Ignasiak.  Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Gerald Bailey said, “I am pleased with the law enforcement collaboration that delivered such a high level of commitment and expertise to this complex case”.