Conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh turned himself in to Florida authorities about 4 p.m. Friday on a warrant for fraud to conceal information to obtain a prescription, in what prosecutors call "doctor shopping," according to the Associated Press.

Limbaugh entered a plea of not guilty in court Friday. He was released an hour later on $3,000 bail. Under a settlement deal, Limbaugh would eventually see the charge dismissed in 18 months if he continues treatment for drug addiction.

Prosecutors began investigating Limbaugh in 2003 after a tabloid newspaper reported that his housekeeper said he had used her to illegally buy painkillers. He soon took a five-week leave from his radio show to enter a rehabilitation program, and was painted as a hypocrite by critics and the blogosphere.

Prosecutors seized Limbaugh's records after learning that he received about 2,000 painkillers, prescribed by four doctors in six months, at a pharmacy near his Palm Beach mansion. They contended that Limbaugh engaged in "doctor shopping," or illegally deceived multiple doctors to receive overlapping prescriptions.

Limbaugh acknowledged he became addicted to pain medication, blaming it on severe back pain, but never took back all the comments he made over the years to "throw away the key" for anyone who abused drugs.

According to his attorney Roy Black, who issued this press release today, said Limbaugh also has agreed to make a $30,000 payment to the state to defray the public cost of the investigation. He must refrain from violating the law during this 18 months and pay $30 per month for the cost of supervision.