ST. CLAIRSVILLE — A former Belmont County coroner’s healthcare fraud case has been continued.

Dr. Troy Balgo, a doctor of osteopathy who was the owner and operator of Belmont Urgent Care Center’s walk-in clinic in St. Clairsville, was arrested in 2019. Balgo was charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with one count of healthcare fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, six counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances, and one count of conspiracy to commit the unlawful distribution of controlled substances.

Balgo allegedly caused and/or conspired to cause submissions for healthcare services that were not performed. The allegations also state that Balgo prescribed controlled substances while he was out of the state or country.

Balgo’s business was raided along with 12 pain medication providers by the Appalachian Region Prescription Opioid Task Force as part of a larger operation to intervene in the alleged illegal distribution of more than 23 million pills. Along with Balgo, local doctors Freeda Flynn of St. Clairsville and Thomas Romano of Wheeling were also arrested. There was a substantial police presence at the Belmont Urgent Care Center during the raid that included the St. Clairsville Police Department, the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and members of the Belmont County Major Crimes Unit. The case is to be prosecuted by attorney Christopher Jason of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

Balgo’s original trial was set for Oct. 10, 2023, but it was delayed until Jan. 22. The case was continued again in January by Judge Michael H. Watson and is now set for trial at 9 a.m. Oct 7, 2024, before Watson. The Southern District of Ohio Court did not provide any information regarding the reason for the continuance.