THREE RIVERS, Mass. (WWLP) - A doctor based out of Three Rivers has agreed to pay $220,000 in civil penalties to settle allegations that he violated the Controlled Substances Act. Virginia woman faces jail time after practicing illegal dentistry The U.S. Attorney's Office states that Dr. Stephen Holuk prescribed controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice. Dr. Holuk allegedly wrote 280 prescriptions for opioids for four patients alone. Under the Controlled Substances Act, doctors can only issue prescriptions for a legitimate medical purpose. “When doctors prescribe addictive opioids outside the scope of proper professional practice, they put patients at risk of overdose and undermine efforts to address the opioid crisis,” said United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Our office and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to hold medical providers accountable for irresponsible prescribing, especially when it threatens the safety of our communities.” “This settlement resolves allegations that Dr. Stephen Holuk abused his prescribing privileges,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Doctors willing to illegally distribute and prescribe opioids only deepen the drug epidemic that continues to ravage our area. We encourage the public to report any information about prescription abuse to us or our law enforcement partners.” “Medical practitioners who prescribe controlled substances have an obligation to do so responsibly and for legitimate medical purposes,” said Special Agent in Charge Roberto Coviello of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “We will continue to investigate allegations of dangerous and irresponsible prescribing as we work to protect patients from such conduct.” Local News Headlines 80 Amazon packages discovered roadside by Lakeville police With Slow Zones gone, MBTA looks forward to a "new era" Herrell's in Northampton wins Spectrum Award for excellence in customer service Warming center open at Providence Ministries in Holyoke due to cold temperatures WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.