BALTIMORE (WJZ) — The U.S. Department of Justice busts pain clinic owners and their accomplices running so-called “pill mills” here in Maryland.

Amy Yensi has more on the federal investigation.

More than a dozen suspects are accused of using pain clinics to allegedly sell prescription-strength pain killers.

A 15-month investigation, wire taps and covert informants dismantled four pain clinics in our area.

“The most significant drug dealers that we’re charging today are not people who were standing on street corners handing out dime-bags of heroin, they’re people who were wearing suits and ties and managing medical offices,” said U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein.

The Department of Justice charges 16 people with running pain clinics or so-called “pill mills” to illegally distribute Oxycodone pills for a profit.

“The clients would come in, and they would comment about what was going on in the parking lot,” said Bill Wolf, who works near a suspected pill mill.

In Maryland — PG Wellness Center, First Priority Health Care, MPC Wellness Center — and in Washington, D.C. — A-Plus Pain Center — are all alleged pill mills.

Their owners are accused of hiring runners to pose as patients in pain to fill the prescriptions sell the pills. Authorities say the suspects were aware of the possibly deadly consequences.

In one taped call, a suspect admits: “…You’re killin’ people… They don’t need it…”

The owners of First Priority Health Care are also accused of planning to open up their very own pharmacy and radiation center that could verify phony prescriptions and MRI reports.

One woman says she’s been suspicious about the Elkridge clinic for months.

“They would conduct drug deals in the parking lot in plain sight,” she said.

Officials say Oxycodone is a gateway drug to heroin and in the last few years they’ve noticed a spike in heroin overdoses in Maryland.

The DOJ is still investigating whether others were knowingly participating in the scheme.