Ohio Doctor Admits Role in Pill Mill Scheme

CINCINNATI – The opioid epidemic continues to fuel corruption at every level, and today, another doctor faces the consequences. Margaret Temponeras, 52, of Portsmouth, Ohio, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, admitting her central role in a blatant ‘pill mill’ operation disguised as a legitimate pain clinic.

The guilty plea, announced jointly by U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman, DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. Plancon, FBI Special Agent in Charge Angela L. Byers, Ohio State Board of Pharmacy Executive Director Steven W. Schierholt, and the Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), reveals a calculated scheme that profited from the suffering of others. Temponeras entered her plea before U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black.

According to court documents, Temponeras owned and operated Unique Pain Management in Wheelersburg, Ohio, alongside her father, John Temponeras, 82, also a physician. From June 2005 until May 2011, the pair allegedly churned through over 20 patients per day, each paying cash – starting at $200 – for cursory medical examinations. The prescriptions that followed weren’t tailored to individual needs, but rather, a standardized cocktail of highly addictive substances. Patients routinely received monthly prescriptions for 120-150 pills of 15mg Oxycodone, another 120-150 pills of 30mg Oxycodone, and 90 pills of 2mg Xanax.

The prescriptions weren’t just handed out; they were funneled. Patients were directed to Raymond Fankell, 62, of Wheelersburg, Ohio, owner of Prime Pharmacy, to fill the lucrative orders. When local pharmacies began to wise up and refuse to fill the prescriptions from Unique Pain Management, Temponeras didn’t stop – she doubled down. She opened Unique Relief LLC, a dispensary operating from the same location as her clinic, effectively creating a closed-loop system for distributing the drugs.

This wasn’t a case of misguided medical judgment; it was a criminal enterprise. Both Temponeras and Fankell have already pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, a charge that carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. John Temponeras also entered a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone, facing the same maximum penalty. The investigation demonstrates the lengths to which some medical professionals will go for profit, and the devastating consequences for the communities they are meant to serve.

U.S. Attorney Glassman praised the collaborative effort of the DEA, FBI, Ohio State Board of Pharmacy, and Ohio HIDTA in bringing this case to light. Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Oakley and Timothy S. Mangan are prosecuting the case, ensuring that those responsible for fueling the opioid crisis are held accountable. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing of all involved parties.