Laredo, Texas physician Oscar Lightner, MD, was convicted along with his office manager, who is also his stepson, for illegally prescribing more than 600,000 opioid pills in exchange for cash, the Justice Department said April 12.
Dr. Lightner, 73, owned and operated Jomori Health and Wellness in Houston, the department said. He illegally distributed dangerous combinations of drugs including hydrocodone, carisoprodol and alprazolam in exchange for payments from $250 to $500 per patient.
His office manager and stepson, Andres Martinez, Jr., 29, coordinated with "crew leaders" to bring people into the clinic to pose as patients, including people living in homeless shelters, the department said. The clinic netted more than $1.2 million in cash over 14 months through the scheme.
Dr. Lightner and Mr. Martinez are set for sentencing on Aug. 8, the department said.