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Date: 04-12-2023
Case Style:
Case Number: 4:18-cr-00513
Judge: Lee H. Rosenthal
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas (Harris County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office in Houston
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Houston, Texas criminal defense lawyers represented Defendants who were charged with operating a pill-mill clinic that unlawfully prescribed over 600,000 opioid pills in exchange for cash.
Dr. Oscar Lightner, 73, and Andres Martinez Jr., 29, both of Laredo, operated Jomori Health and Wellness (Jomori), a purported Houston pain management clinic, as a pill mill. Lightner, who was the owner of and physician at Jomori, unlawfully prescribed dangerous combinations of controlled substances including hydrocodone, carisoprodol, and alprazolam to his patients without a legitimate medical purpose, in exchange for cash payments ranging from $250 to $500 per patient. Martinez, who was Jomori’s office manager and Lightner’s stepson, coordinated with “crew leaders” to bring multiple people – including individuals living in homeless shelters – into Jomori to pose as patients. Jomori received over $1.2 million in cash over fourteen months through its scheme that resulted in the unlawful distribution and dispensing of over 600,000 Schedule II opioids – including hydrocodone – and other controlled substances.
Lightner was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances and two counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances. Martinez was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances and one count of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances. Lightner and Martinez face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count and are both are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 8. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas, and Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the DEA made the announcement.
The DEA investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Monica Cooper and Andrew Tamayo of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE AND DISPENSE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
(1)
CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE AND DISPENSE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
(1s)
UNLAWFULLY DISTRIBUTING AND DISPENSING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AND AIDING AND ABETTING
(2-4)
UNLAWFULLY DISTRIBUTING AND DISPENSING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE AND AIDING AND ABETTING
(2s-3s)
Outcome: 04/11/2023 168 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Lee H Rosenthal: DAY FIVE of JURY TRIAL as to Oscar Lightner, Andres Martinez, Jr held on 4/11/2023: Deliberations begin. The jury returned a verdict finding both defendants Guilty of all charges against them. The jury is polled and released with the thanks of the court. Exhibits are withdrawn and are to be uploaded into CM/ECF by both sides for appeal purposes. Each side will file an updated final exhibit list. Order for PSR signed. The defendants are remanded to the custody of the US Marshals. Trial ends. Appearances: Monica Cooper/Andrew Tamayo-AUSA, Nizar DeWood for Deft. Lightner and Ralph Martinez for Deft. A. Martinez.(Court Reporter: L. Smith) (Interpreter: No) Defts. Are remanded to custody. filed.(leddins, 4) (Entered: 04/11/2023)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: