Dr. James Hanus Medical Clinic is located at 101 East Columbia St, South Whitley.

SOUTH WHITLEY — After a Drug Enforcement Administration raid on Tuesday, Oct. 4, Dr. Hanus’ Medical Clinic in South Whitley is now closed.

A phone recording greets patients with the information upon calling the office. “Dr. Hanus’ office is now closed effective immediately,” the recording states. “Please note, we are not able to prescribe any new medication or refill existing prescriptions as Dr. Hanus is not in practice any longer.”

An official press release from D.J. Sigler Chief Deputy Prosecutor of Whitley County, on Oct. 4 read:

“On Tuesday Oct. 4, 2016, Investigators and Special Agents from the DEA’s Merrillville Resident Office and Fort Wayne Post of Duty, in cooperation with the Whitley County Prosecutor’s Office, The Whitley County Drug Task Force, The Indiana State Police and the Indiana Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit executed search warrants at the residence and medical office of Dr. James F. Hanus.”

“The execution of the search warrants followed a nearly two-year investigation by both federal and state law enforcement agencies. Following the search, Hanus voluntarily surrendered his DEA registration to federal agents, rendering him unable to prescribe or possess controlled substances.”

Hanus was the sole owner and operator of his business and had been practicing medicine since around 1976. Both his office and residence are located in South Whitley.

The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information relative to the investigation should call the Merrillville DEA at (219) 644-3127 or the Whitley County Drug Task Force at (260) 244-5410.