Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Fugitive doctor nabbed in Florida
Marcus Rae Williams accused of illegally prescribing opioids
PHILADELPHIA >> A Coatesville doctor accused of illegally prescribing opioids and on the run for the past nine days, has been arrested in Florida.
Marcus Rae Williams, 60, was arrested Feb. 17 by the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office in Lake Worth, Fla. For nearly two weeks, Williams was sought by the U.S. Marshals Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force.
A tipster, who wished to remain anonymous, was crucial in assisting the Marshals Service in negotiating Williams’ surrender.
Williams is currently being held in the Palm Beach County jail awaiting extradition back to Philadelphia.
“Without the help of the media and the public, this arrest would not have been possible,” said Supervisory Deputy Robert Clark. “Thank you to everyone in Bucks and Chester County for your tips and your willingness to assist us in bringing Mr. Williams safely to justice.”
On Jan. 9, Williams was indicted by the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for illegally prescribing opioids.
In 2014, while being employed as a Doctor for Advanced Urgent Care in Philadelphia and Montgomeryville, Williams, authorities allege, illegally prescribed over 70 fraudulent prescriptions for pain medication. He allegedly offered a “pain management” plan to the public that enabled people to get opioids for a simple office fee ranging from $80 to $140.
He is one of 13 indicted doctors and physicians assistants that were charged by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Investigators say Williams
is homeless and had been previously seen frequenting Bucks and Chester counties. His last known address was along the 600 block of East Gay Street in West Chester.
The Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force is a team of law enforcement officers led by U.S. Marshals
in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties. The task force’s objective is to seek out and arrest violent crime fugitives. Membership agencies include the Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania State Parole Officers, Pennsylvania State Police and Pennsylvania Attorney General Agents.