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Mount Holly doctor traded pain pills for sex acts

MOUNT HOLLY, NC — Federal court documents allege a Mount Holly doctor traded prescription pain pills for sex acts with female patients in his office.

The North Carolina Medical Board revoked Dr. Michael Alson Smith's license last year after he signed a consent order acknowledging sex acts against two women. The board had suspended his license in October.

RELATED: Mt. Holly doctor accused of having sex with patients; license suspended

The board accused Smith of having sexual contact with the patients "by force or coercion." He had treated one woman for chronic back pain, depressive disorder and schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, and the other woman for anxiety disorder and opioid dependence.

Per the consent order, he acknowledged having non-consensual sexual intercourse with one patient in September, and a sex act against the other in August.

Federal court documents also accuse Smith of submitting fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid.

Smith practiced family medicine at Mt. Holly Family Practice.

Chris McIntosh lives across the street from what used to be Mt. Holly Family Practice.

“It's sad that things like this go on," he said.

Former patient Andrew Burnt said he confronted Smith months ago when the allegations were rumors.

"He never admitted it,” Burnt said. “He denied it at the time. (He) said there were a lot of lies being told about him."

Smith agreed to plead guilty to health care fraud in writing.

He still has to affirm the plea in court.

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