Everwell

Owner Of Mid-State Opioid Treatment Programs Agrees to Settle Allegations Of PPP Fraud & Controlled Substance Act Violations

Thursday, May 25, 2023

U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Tennessee
$500,000 to be Paid in Restitution, Damages, & Civil Penalties
NASHVILLE - James C. Sells III, of Springville, Tennessee, has agreed to pay the United States a total of $500,000 to settle allegations that he fraudulently applied for and received funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and violated the Controlled Substances Act, announced United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis.

According to the Settlement Agreement, Sells had ownership in several office-based opioid treatment programs in middle Tennessee, including Nashville Recovery LLC, which he sold in September 2022, Everwell Medical LLC, in Murfreesboro, Forever Well, LLC, in Dickson, and Journey Medical, in Gallatin. The programs, acting through Sells, applied for, and obtained multiple loans from the PPP in the total amount of $143,109, all of which were forgiven.

In addition, in the Settlement Agreement, the United States also alleges that from January 1, 2020, through September 8, 2020, one of the providers who sees patients at two of the programs failed to secure his password to the electronic prescribing system and allowed his office manager to electronically sign prescriptions, in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.

Of the $500,000 settlement, $143,109 is restitution relating to the PPP loans; $143,109 is damages relating to the PPP loan; and the remaining $213,782 is civil penalties for violations of the Controlled Substances Act.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration - Diversion Group and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

I have been a patient here for at least 3 years. These folks have saved my life. Everyone has been very accommodating and nice. If you have an addiction problem, these are the people you need to see.

Since day one this office has been nothing but helpful and caring. They took on my partner and have made sure that he has kept on the right track! I am so glad I found them! I highly recommend them for anyone wanting to get clean!