A Houston doctor has been sentenced to seven years in prison for operating a pill mill clinic that unlawfully prescribed over 600,000 opioid pills in exchange for cash.
Dr. Oscar Lightner, 73, of Laredo, was convicted of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances and conspiracy by a federal jury on April 11.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Lightner and Andres Martinez Jr., 29, of Laredo, operated Jomori Health and Wellness (Jomori), a purported Houston pain management clinic, as a pill mill.
Lightner, who was the owner of and physician at Jomori, unlawfully prescribed dangerous combinations of controlled substances — including hydrocodone, carisoprodol and alprazolam — to his patients without a legitimate medical purpose in exchange for cash payments ranging from $250 to $500.
Martinez, who was Jomori’s office manager and Lightner’s stepson, coordinated with crew leaders to bring multiple people, including individuals living in homeless shelters, into Jomori to pose as patients to obtain prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances.
Jomori received over $1.2 million in cash over 14 months through its scheme that resulted in the unlawful distribution and dispensing of more than 600,000 opioids and other controlled substances.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the DEA Houston Division made the announcement as well.
The DEA conducted the investigation.
Trial Attorneys Monica Cooper and Andrew Tamayo of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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