As explained by Assistant Special Agent in Charge Rick Ramirez of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, “a ‘pill mill’ describes a doctor’s office, clinic, or other healthcare facility that routinely prescribes or dispenses controlled substances (controlled substances II-V), without a medical necessity and outside the course of a normal professional practice. In essence, pill mills are responsible for dispensing large quantities of pharmaceutical drugs, which are being used and diverted by thousands of Floridians and voyagers from other states.”
It should go without saying that running a pill mill violates ethical standards. It also breaches legal boundaries established to protect public health and ensure the responsible and appropriate use of medications. Law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies actively work to identify and shut down such operations to safeguard the well-being of patients and communities. They also hold accountable those responsible for such illicit practices.
Texas medical clinic office manager sentenced to seven years in prison.
As reported by the Office of Public Affairs yesterday, 30 year-old Andres Martinez Jr. will spend the next seven years in prison. The Laredo, Texas resident was the office manager of Jomori Health and Wellness in Houston. Both court documents and evidence presented at his trial showed that Martinez unlawfully distributed over 600,000 opioid pills in exchange for cash.
He was found to be operating Jomori as a pill mill. Although presented as a pain management clinic, the business was unlawfully prescribing dangerous combinations of controlled substances. They included hydrocodone, carisoprodol and alprazolam. The report notes that Jomori was owned and operated by 74 year-old Dr. Oscar Lightner. He was convicted alongside Martinez back on April 11. The doctor also received a seven-year prison term on November 30.
Dr. Lightner was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances and two counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances. Martinez was also convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances, but one count of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances. They both faced maximum penalties of 20 years in prison for each count.
Lightner wrote prescriptions for pills in exchange for cash.
The doctor’s prescriptions were written without any legitimate medical purpose. In exchange, he received between $250 and $500 per script. Martinez is Lightner’s stepson, the report unveils. Together, they coordinated with crew leaders to bring multiple people, including those living in homeless shelters, into Jomori to pose as patients. The plan for was for the individuals to obtain prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances.
“Jomori received over $1.2 million in cash over 14 months through its scheme that resulted in the unlawful distribution and dispensing of over 600,000 opioids and other controlled substances,” details the report.
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