The embattled Ellwood City Medical Center, which shuttered its doors in December, was renewed with activity Thursday with FBI agents on scene.

Catherine Policicchio, public affairs officer with the FBI Pittsburgh field office, said agents were at the facility at 724 Pershing St., Ellwood City, on Thursday, but would not comment any further. “FBI Pittsburgh was conducting law enforcement activity there yesterday (Thursday),” she said.

According to the Ellwood City Ledger, residents saw FBI agents removing boxes of materials from the hospital.

The medical center was acquired by Americore Health in 2017. Between its sale and its Dec. 10 closure, the Lawrence County hospital was cited more than 40 times by the Pennsylvania Department of Health for deficient practice.

The health department temporarily closed the hospital center's emergency room and barred it from practicing inpatient services in December for serious violations. The hospital later that month made its closure permanent and laid off its employees. Americore Health filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late December as well.

Josh Shapiro, the commonwealth's attorney general, filed a petition in Lawrence County in late December in an attempt to compel Americore to pay the full wages for at least 152 employees, whom Shapiro said were only partially paid if at all.

In a news release, Shapiro said Americore's treatment of the medical center was not unusual given the company's history.

“According to news reports, Americore and (found/CEO Grant) White have engaged in similar activity around the country, acquiring community hospitals, running them into the ground, and leaving taxpayers to foot the bill,” the release stated.