BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Dr. Patrick Emeka Ifediba, 61, of Shelby County, is going away for 30 years after a federal judge exposed his medical clinic as a full-blown pill mill raking in $7.8 million through fraud, illegal drug distribution, and laundering dirty cash. U.S. District Court Judge R. David Proctor handed down the sentence Tuesday, marking the end of a years-long scheme run out of Care Complete Medical Clinic in Birmingham — a front where Ifediba traded prescriptions for profit while fueling Alabama’s opioid epidemic.
Ifediba was convicted in July 2019 on thirty-five counts, including unlawful drug distribution, health care fraud, and money laundering. The jury found he systematically overprescribed opioids, often mixing them with other controlled substances into dangerous cocktails, with no legitimate medical purpose. Patients weren’t treated — they were processed. The clinic operated like a narcotics assembly line, with Ifediba and his crew billing Medicare and private insurers for fake allergy tests and medically unnecessary treatments.
Alongside Ifediba’s sentence, the court ordered forfeiture of his interest in multiple real estate holdings and financial assets totaling approximately $2.5 million. Money judgments were also entered: $2,481,665.73 for health care fraud proceeds and $1,132,817.50 tied to controlled substances. Forfeiture proceedings continue as authorities untangle third-party claims to the seized assets.
Two co-conspirators were sentenced the same day. Ngوزي Justina Ozuligbo, 50, of Trussville, convicted on twelve counts of health care fraud and money laundering, received 36 months in prison and was ordered to pay $392,845.94 in restitution. Clement Essien Ebio, 63, of Hoover, who pleaded guilty in August 2018 to conspiring in the health care fraud scheme, was sentenced to 30 months, hit with the same restitution amount, and faces a forfeiture money judgment of $392,845.94.
“Physicians who choose to deal drugs while hiding behind their white coats are no different than drug dealers who hide in alleys,” said U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. “The greed of Dr. Ifediba contributed to the ongoing opioid crisis that is plaguing our communities. And to add insult to injury, Dr. Ifediba used our financial system to disguise the proceeds of his crimes and launder them into financial accounts and real property.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr. and DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Clay Morris echoed the condemnation. “Ifediba intentionally fueled the local opioid epidemic by over prescribing addictive medications to patients for his own personal gain,” Sharp said. Morris added, “Time and time again, Ifediba handed out prescriptions for highly addictive opioids without regard to life or the well-being of those struggling with addiction. Today’s sentence is a stark reminder that even drug dealers who wear white coats are not above justice.”
Related Federal Cases
- Phenix City Doc Pleads Guilty to Pill Mill Scheme & Money Laundering · Alabama
- Huntsville Doc Gets 15-Year Sentence for Pill Mill Fraud · Alabama
- Phenix City Pill Mill Doc Gets 10-Year Sentence · Alabama
- Huntsville ‘Pill Mill’ Doctor Aggarwal Pleads Guilty · Alabama
- Montgomery Man Gets 28 Months for Stolen ID Tax Fraud Scheme · Alabama
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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