Doctor in police custody

10/20/03 - A Mid-Michigan doctor was in police custody Monday. Dr. Ira Leiberman of North Branch, who worked out of Grand Blanc, has been indicted by a grand jury and he was in court for arraignment.

The 55 year old is charged with illegally distributing controlled substances from 1997 to the present. The doctor's Grand Blanc office was raided last month by investigators. They believed he was writing illegal prescriptions for Oxycontin, Demoral and Vicodin.

At the time, several boxes of evidence were seized. Leiberman is not registered with the Genesee County Medical Society, who's president said patients, when looking for doctors, should make sure their doctor is a member of the society.

If convicted, Leiberman could spend up to 20 years in prison and be fined up to $1 million.