Texas physician Oscar Lightner, MD, was convicted April 11 for operating a "pill mill" clinic and unlawfully prescribing over 600,000 opioid pills in exchange for cash payments.
Dr. Lightner is the owner of pain management clinic Jomori Health and Wellness in Houston, according to an April 12 news release from the Justice Department. The office was run by office manager and Dr. Lightner's stepson Andres Martinez Jr., who was also convicted.
According to court documents and evidence, Dr. Lightner unlawfully prescribed medically unnecessary controlled substances, including hydrocodone, carisoprodol and alprazolam, in exchange for cash payments ranging from $250 to $500 per patient.
Meanwhile, Mr. Martinez brought in people, including those living in homeless shelters, to pose as patients. Jomori Health received over $1.2 million in cash over the course of the 14-month scheme, during which Dr. Lightner unlawfully distributed over 600,000 pills.
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, while Mr. Martinez was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances and one count of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances.