Four Florida abortion clinics lose license over links to James Pendergraft, two stay open illegal
The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) has revoked four abortion facility licenses of abortion clinics associated with abortionist James Scott Pendergraft, IV.
Operation Rescue noted “The revocations were made as a result of Pendergraft’s October 2017 drug convictions in South Carolina. Pendergraft and a female associate were arrested near the community of Spartanburg on October 5, 2015.”
Sheriff Chuck Wright stated in a press conference at that time: “We got a guy and a girl early in the week that was a traveling abortionist. He traveled around the state of South Carolina without a medical license, with drugs and with medical tools, performing in-home abortions. So basically, we got an illegal baby killer.”
The revocations were effective on March 27, 2018. Facilities involved were:
• EPOC
• Ft. Lauderdale Women’s Center
• Ocala Women’s Center
• Orlando Women’s Center
Pendergraft was never licensed to practice in South Carolina, but pled guilty on to ten criminal Felony and Misdemeanor counts including Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana and LSD, Possession and Distribution Prescription Drugs without a Prescription, and Manufacture and Possession of Schedule I & II Substances.
At one point Pendergraft operated an illegal abortion scheme out of the back of his van.
Those convictions disqualified him from owning or operating any medical facility in Florida.
The AHCA filed suit to close Pendergraft’s abortion facilities.
Pendergraft had appealed the revocation orders, but the court ruled on March 26, 2018, that the revocations should stand.
The Orlando Women Center, Pendergraft’s flagship abortion facility, is one of the clinics that remains open. It has undergone a name change to Center of Orlando for Women. Pendergraft has transferred ownership to Denise Williams, who is reportedly an ex-wife and the mother of two of his children.
The Fort Lauderdale Women’s Center‘s license was revoked on March 27, 2018, and no ownership transfers are on record. Nevertheless, the abortion facility continues to conduct abortions – apparently illegally.
A complaint against the facility was filed on April 7, 2018, by Broward Right to Life, which says at least 34 abortions have taken place at the unlicensed facility between March 27 and April 7.
