{"id":52781,"date":"2023-04-12T11:14:13","date_gmt":"2023-04-12T18:14:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=52781"},"modified":"2023-04-12T11:14:13","modified_gmt":"2023-04-12T18:14:13","slug":"physician-and-clinic-office-manager-convicted-of-unlawful-distribution-of-over-600000-opioid-pills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=52781","title":{"rendered":"Physician and Clinic Office Manager Convicted of Unlawful Distribution of Over 600,000 Opioid Pills"},"content":{"rendered":"

HOUSTON<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"A federal jury convicted a Texas physician and clinic office manager Wednesday for operating a pill-mill clinic that unlawfully prescribed over 600,000 opioid pills in exchange for cash, officials stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

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According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dr. Oscar Lightner, 73, and Andres Martinez Jr., 29, both of Laredo, operated Jomori Health and Wellness (Jomori), a purported Houston pain management clinic, as a pill mill. <\/span><\/p>\n

Lightner, the owner of and physician at Jomori, unlawfully prescribed dangerous combinations of controlled substances.<\/span><\/p>\n

This included hydrocodone, carisoprodol, and alprazolam to his patients without a legitimate medical purpose in exchange for cash payments ranging from $250 to $500 per patient, according to authorities.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Martinez, who was Jomori\u2019s office manager and Lightner\u2019s stepson, coordinated with \u201ccrew leaders\u201d to bring multiple people \u2013 including individuals living in homeless shelters \u2013 into Jomori to pose as patients. <\/span><\/p>\n

Jomori received over $1.2 million in cash over fourteen months through its scheme that resulted in the unlawful distribution and dispensing of over 600,000 Schedule II opioids \u2013 including hydrocodone \u2013 and other controlled substances.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Lightner was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances and two counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances. <\/span><\/p>\n

Martinez was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances and one count of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances. Lightner and Martinez face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count and are both are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 8. <\/span><\/p>\n

The DEA investigated the case.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Trial Attorneys Monica Cooper and Andrew Tamayo of the Criminal Division\u2019s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division\u2019s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. <\/span><\/p>\n

Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 25 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24 billion, according to federal officials.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. <\/span><\/p>\n

More information can be found at\u00a0https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/criminal-fraud\/health-care-fraud-unit<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

HOUSTON A federal jury convicted a Texas physician and clinic office manager Wednesday for operating a pill-mill clinic that unlawfully prescribed over 600,000 opioid pills in exchange for cash, officials stated. 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