Dr. Romie Roland Sentenced for Pill Mill Operation in Atlanta

ATLANTA – Anesthesiologist Dr. Romie Earl Roland has been sentenced to 10 years and 10 months for his role in a pill mill operation that distributed prescription painkillers without legitimate medical purpose, fueling the opiate crisis.

In a stunning blow against pharmaceutical trafficking, Roland was joined by seven other co-defendants who each faced sentences for their involvement in the illegal clinic’s operations. These defendants included Anthony Licata, Charlyn Carter, Adrian Singletary, Dante Cummings, Anthony Ferguson, Danny Thompson, and Joshua Gadd.

“Physicians like Roland are sworn to do no harm,” said U.S. Attorney John Horn, “but he betrayed that oath by teaming up with a corrupt clinic owner to profit from selling prescriptions to drug seekers.”

Daniel R. Salter, DEA Special Agent in Charge, emphasized the gravity of the situation: “When a trusted member of the medical community abuses their position for criminal gain, it’s a travesty. Thanks to our unified law enforcement efforts, these individuals will face justice.”

Veronica Hyman-Pillot, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge, warned that pill mill operators can expect stiff penalties: “These clinics are as dangerous as any other drug trafficking operation. Our agents will continue to investigate and prosecute these cases, focusing on money laundering as a key component of the prosecution.”

The investigation began in 2012 at Express Health Center in Buckhead, where agents discovered that Anthony Licata was the principal owner. Charlyn Carter managed the clinic’s operations, while Adrian Singletary served as security and helped with patient triage. The clinic, open only two days a week, saw an excessive number of patients from out-of-state, many of whom were drug dealers or abusers. Roland prescribed oxycodone, methadone, and Percocet outside the bounds of professional practice, without conducting proper examinations or verifying medical histories.