A Tulsa physician accused of turning his medical clinic into a prescription mill for powerful opioids has pleaded guilty to federal charges. Dr. Christopher V. Moses, D.O., 67, of Tulsa, entered guilty pleas in U.S. District Court to one count of conspiring to distribute controlled substances and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises at his clinic located at 8222 South Harvard Avenue.
Moses admitted to leading a criminal conspiracy that issued prescriptions for controlled substances—including Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, and Fentanyl—without a legitimate medical purpose and far outside the bounds of professional medical practice. The clinic, operating under the guise of legitimate healthcare, became a hub for dispensing deadly opioids to individuals seeking drugs rather than treatment, federal prosecutors said.
“Doctors who run ‘pill mills’ are on notice: you will be investigated and prosecuted,” warned U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Once convicted as a felon, you will no longer be allowed to practice medicine.” Shores emphasized the devastating toll of opioid addiction, noting that nearly 70 percent of U.S. drug overdose deaths involve prescription or illicit opioids—many of them originating from diverted prescriptions like those issued by Moses.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell scheduled sentencing for November 12, 2020. The drug conspiracy charge carries up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine; maintaining a drug-involved premises carries the same maximum penalty and a $500,000 fine. Despite the severity of the charges, the plea agreement calls for one year of home confinement followed by five years of probation.
As part of the deal, Moses has agreed to permanently surrender his medical license and will not seek reinstatement during the five-year term. He will also pay $28,581.00 in restitution to two identified victims and a $200,000 fine. Federal authorities have already secured a $1.8 million money judgment tied to the illicit proceeds from the operation.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation into Moses’ operation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel-lyn McCormick prosecuted the case, with support from AUSAs Vani Singhal, Melody Nelson, and Reagan Reininger. McCormick, lead attorney for the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force in the Northern District of Oklahoma, called the case a stark warning to medical professionals who exploit their licenses for profit at the public’s expense.
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Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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