Federal prosecutors in Texas have sentenced Dr. Leovares Mendez, 59, to seven years in federal prison for his role in a pill mill scheme that defrauded patients and exploited their DEA registrations.
Dr. Mendez was convicted on Monday by Chief U.S. District Judge David Godbey following a jury trial in February 2024. He had been indicted along with Dr. Cesar Pena-Rodriguez, 56, and recruiter Jorge Hernandez, 35, back in February 2020.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Mendez, along with Pena-Rodriguez, owner of Cumbre Medical Center, prescribed hydrocodone, alprazolam, and tramadol without legitimate medical purpose. They wrote these prescriptions for cash payments ranging from $200 to $250 per patient.
Undercover officers were able to obtain illegal prescriptions on multiple visits over almost two years despite never complaining of pain. Dr. Mendez was caught coaching the undercover officers on how to respond if contacted by law enforcement, while advising them to maintain a low profile.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton emphasized that ‘this defendant wasn’t practicing medicine – he was dealing drugs.’ DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to holding medical professionals accountable for their illegal behavior.
The investigation and prosecution of the case were carried out by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Donna Max, Rachael Jones, Marty Basu, and Renee Hunter, with support from appellate liaisons Gail Hayworth and Amy Mitchell.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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