PIKE COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) -- A Michigan doctor and two of his patients, suspected of operating a pill distribution ring in eastern Kentucky, have been arrested by federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents.

Operation UNITE officials say Dr. Anthony Choe, 45, of Chelsea, Michigan, was arrested at his office Wednesday on a federal indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone.

Two of Choe’s patients -- 47-year-old Clarence D. Bentley and his wife, 46-year-old Kelly Bentley, both from Albion, Michigan, were each arrested at their home Thursday on the same charge.

According to a press release, the Bentleys, along with four other people who have not been identified, allegedly delivered thousands of Oxycodone pills to dealers in Pike County, Ky. over the past two years.

Dr. Choe was the primary point of distribution for these pills according to Dan Smoot, vice president/director of law enforcement for Operation UNITE.

“He would write prescriptions for large quantities of Oxycodone. After being filled, the pills were brought to Pike County where they ultimately made their way to the users, said Smoot.

Several of the Kentucky dealers have been arrested over the course of the investigation, which began as street-level cases by Operation UNITE.

A single 30mg Oxycodone pill has a street value of approximately $50, according to Smoot.

Both Chelsea and Albion are located west of Detroit along I-94.