WASHINGTON — A Vienna doctor was among those indicted this week by federal authorities on charges of unlawfully distributing opioids and other controlled substances.

The Justice Department announced Tuesday the second coordinated law enforcement action of the Appalachian Region Prescription Opioid (ARPO) strike force, resulting in charges against 13 individuals across five Appalachian federal districts for alleged offenses relating to the over prescription of controlled substances through “pill mill” clinics, according to a press release from the U.S. Justice Department.

Of those charged, 12 were charged for their alleged role in unlawfully distributing opioids and other controlled substances and 11 were physicians. The alleged conduct resulted in the distribution of more than 17 million pills.

Dr. Michael Shramowiat, 66, of Vienna was charged with allegedly unlawfully distributing controlled substance without a legitimate medical purpose. This case was investigated by the DEA, the U.S. Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and Hurricane Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Chief Kilby Macfadden and Trial Attorney Sean O’Connell of the Fraud Section.

In an indictment that was unsealed Tuesday, Shramowiat is accused of “knowingly and intentionally distributed a quantity of Fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance…not for legitimate medical purposes in the usual course of professional medical practice and beyond the bounds of medical practice” between April 2015 and January 2016.

Shramowiat could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Calls to his Vienna office went unanswered.

A representative of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs said at Shramowiat’s initial appearance after being arrested, the court ordered him detained pending trial.

These indictments follow the first such takedown in April of this year, which involved charges against 60 defendants, including 53 medical professionals, in 11 federal districts, alleging the illegal distribution of more than 23 million pills, according to the press release. The charges brought in April have resulted in 11 guilty pleas in seven federal districts, including guilty pleas by nine medical professionals, including seven physicians.

U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart of the Southern District of West Virginia said they have taken a tough stance against those that fuel the opiate crisis at every level including pill writers, pill fillers and drug dealers.

“The unlawful distribution of controlled substances is a serious matter that gets my office’s full attention,” he said. ”It is one of our highest priorities for prosecution as we continue with our efforts to protect the public and the people of West Virginia.

”And for those that struggle or have a loved one that struggles with addiction and substance use disorder, I again urge treatment and recovery. While we remain tough in our actions against those who feed this crisis, my sincere and prayerful hope is that everyone who needs help gets help on their path to true recovery.”

The charges announced Tuesday aggressively prosecute medical professionals whose alleged prescribing behaviors have contributed to the opioid epidemic, particularly medical professionals who are involved in the unlawful distribution of opioids and other prescription narcotics, a particular focus for the department, the press release said.

According to the CDC, approximately 115 Americans die every day of an opioid-related overdose.

Tuesday’s enforcement actions were led and coordinated by the Health Care Fraud Unit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section in conjunction with its ARPO Strike Force, a partnership among the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the FBI, DEA and the HHS-OIG. In addition, the operation includes the participation of various other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Ohio Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and West Virginia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, officials said.

The Center for Medicare Services, Center for Program Integrity announced Tuesday it would take any appropriate administrative action based on these charges.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations, the press release said. The defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.