A 57-year-old Annandale doctor has pleaded guilty to maintaining a drug-involved premises, perpetuating the opioid crisis in the region.
Lino Cueto Montilla, 57, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 9, facing a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Montilla’s guilty plea marks a significant blow to the opioid epidemic that has ravaged communities across the country.
According to court documents, Montilla practiced as an obstetrician-gynecologist (ob-gyn) with Fairfax Ob-Gyn Associates from 1999 to 2015. However, in 2016, he began treating patients at Fairfax Pain Clinic (FPC), a pain management facility where he became the primary doctor prescribing Schedule II controlled substances.
Between 2016 and 2020, Montilla saw approximately 20 patients per day, spending less than 10 minutes with each. Despite conducting only cursory exams, Montilla prescribed excessive amounts of opioids to many patients for years, often without confirming diagnoses or reviewing prior medical records.
Montilla’s prescribing practices were marred by a lack of documentation, including failing to record his reasons for prescribing high opioid dosages. His patients were rarely referred for physical therapy or other treatment for their chronic pain, perpetuating a vicious cycle of addiction.
The guilty plea is a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked opioid prescribing. As the nation grapples with the opioid crisis, Montilla’s actions serve as a cautionary tale of the devastating consequences of reckless medical practices.
U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber and FBI Special Agent David J. Scott announced the plea, praising the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack Morgan and Zoe Bedell in bringing the case to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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