GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: Dr. Alfonso Luevano, a 50-year-old Carrizo Springs physician, and his office manager, Ofelia Martinez, 50, have been hit with federal charges for alleged opioid distribution, healthcare fraud, and identity theft.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Texas announced the arrest of Luevano and Martinez on Thursday, stemming from a 20-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury. The charges include conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, Health Care Fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
According to the indictment, Dr. Luevano is accused of providing prescriptions for opioids like Hydrocodone and Oxycodone without legitimate medical justification. He’s also alleged to have instructed his staff to fill out pre-signed prescription forms for Schedule II controlled substances, which they then distributed.
Additionally, Luevano stands accused of defrauding Texas Medicaid by billing for office visits that were never conducted and misstating patient care details on numerous occasions. Martinez is charged with assisting in the fraudulent billing process and instructing staff to close medical records files in a way that concealed their involvement.
The DEA Special Agent in Charge Glaspy called Luevano ‘a drug dealer in white coats,’ emphasizing the agency’s commitment to tackling the opioid crisis. Both defendants appeared in federal court in Del Rio on Friday, with U.S. Magistrate Judge Garcia releasing them on $50,000 unsecured bonds.
Conviction for these charges could land the defendants up to 20 years in federal prison for drug distribution and identity theft, along with up to ten years for healthcare fraud. The investigation was a joint effort by the DEA Prescription Drug Diversion Task Force, DEA Del Rio, and the Texas Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News