Texas-based pain management specialist Oscar Lightner, MD, has been sentenced to seven years in prison over his role in the operation of a pill mill clinic that unlawfully prescribed over 600,000 opioid pills in exchange for cash.
Dr. Lightner and his stepson Andres Martinez Jr. operated pain clinic Jomori Health and Wellness in Houston.
Dr. Lightner allegedly prescribed his patients dangerous combinations of controlled substances — including hydrocodone, carisoprodol and alprazolam — without a legitimate medical purpose in exchange for cash payments ranging from $250 to $500.
Mr. Martinez, who worked as Dr. Lightner's office manager, 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 that resulted in the unlawful distribution and dispensing of over 600,000 opioid pills and other controlled substances, according to a Nov. 30 press release from the Justice Department.
Dr. Lightner and Mr. Martinez were convicted on April 11. Mr. Martinez is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 12.