Dr James Pendergraft’s drug related arrest linked to four abortion clinics set to lose licenses
Four Florida abortion clinics are facing the loss of their licenses after the arrest of a physician the state says has an “ownership interest” in them.
The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration filed administrative complaints last month against EPOC Clinic LLC in Orlando, Orlando Women’s Center LLC, Ocala Women’s Center LLC and Fort Lauderdale Women’s Center LLC.
“This is an administrative action to revoke the respondent’s licenses to operate a clinical laboratory and an abortion clinic,” the complaints said.
All four clinics are associated with Dr. James Pendergraft, an abortion doctor who was arrested in South Carolina in October for what the state described in the administrative complaints as “drug related offenses.”
The Orlando Sentinel noted that “The Agency for Health Care Administration delivered the complaints to the clinics on Jan. 19 and 20. They did not give details of Pendergraft’s arrest, and an AHCA spokeswoman said the arrest records were confidential…the complaints state that Pendergraft can no longer pass a Level 2 background check due to the arrest, so he no longer qualifies for his ‘ownership interest’ in the clinics….”
“According to the respondent’s license files, James Pendergraft owns more than 5 percent of the respondent and is the financial officer of the respondent,” each complaint said. “As an owner and controlling interest of the respondent, Mr. Pendergraft was required at all times to maintain a satisfactory Level 2 background screening result. With his arrest and pending criminal charges, Mr. Pendergraft is disqualified and is no longer in compliance with Florida law.”
An attorney for the clinics, Frederick Lowe of Tampa, responded Feb. 1 to the complaints, denying that Pendergraft “owns and/or controls 5 percent or more” of the clinics.
Lowe said Thursday he could not discuss the case without his client’s permission. “It looks like we’re going to settle it,” he said.
World Magazine reported that Pendergraft was arrested October 5 by Spartanburg County Sheriff deputies. He and Angela Jackson were pulled over for a traffic violation. According to Bob Brown in the report: “A search of Pendergraft’s car turned up illicit drugs and forceps covered in blood and human tissue, leading Sheriff Chuck Wright to speculate that Pendergraft was operating an illegal mobile abortion business in the state.
“He traveled around the state of South Carolina without a medical license, with drugs and with medical tools performing in-home abortions,” Wright said at an Oct. 9 press conference. “So basically we‘ve got an illegal baby killer and his wife was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana”
They need to shut down that website too.