Gazelle Craig, a 41-year-old Houston physician, and Shane Faithful, 48, the owner of Gulfton Community Health Center, were found guilty of operating a massive pill mill in Houston, Texas, that provided tens of thousands of unlawful prescriptions for millions of doses of opioids and other controlled substances.
A federal jury delivered the guilty verdict after a nine-day trial, convicting both defendants of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances and three counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances. The sentencing date has not yet been scheduled before U.S. District Judge David Hittner.
According to evidence presented at trial, Craig and Faithful ran Gulfton Community Health Center as an illegal pill mill from March 2015 through July 2017. The operation issued approximately 18,252 prescriptions for over 2.1 million dosage units of hydrocodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, and approximately 15,649 prescriptions for over 1.3 million dosage units of carisporodal, a Schedule IV controlled substance.
The evidence also revealed that the defendants charged approximately $300 for each prescription, requiring payment in cash. Faithful and Craig divided each day’s cash proceeds, often exceeding $15,000, from the sale of the unlawful prescriptions.
Craig issued unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances to as many as 60 patients a day. The defendants made great efforts to prevent law enforcement from investigating Gulfton, banning the use of electronic devices in the clinic and preventing anyone from bringing bags into the facility.
Approximately four armed security guards patrolled Gulfton daily to control the crowds of people, ranging from addicts to ‘crew leaders.’ Both defendants were remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions praised the conviction, stating, ‘Our great country is currently in the midst of the deadliest drug crisis in our history. Sadly, even some trusted medical professionals like doctors, nurses, and pharmacists have chosen to violate their oaths and exploit this crisis for cash.’
This case was investigated by the DEA, with Trial Attorneys Scott Armstrong and Devon Helfmeyer of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuting the case.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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