Medical Clinic Office Manager Sentenced in Pill Mill Operation Distributing Over 600,000 Opioid Pills

In a recent development, a medical clinic office manager has been sentenced for his involvement in operating a pill mill clinic that unlawfully distributed over 600,000 opioid pills, according to U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Andres Martinez, Jr., 30, and Dr. Oscar Lightner, 74, both residents of Laredo, were convicted by a federal jury on April 11 for unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances and conspiracy.

Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now handed down a sentence of 84 months in federal prison for Martinez, to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

During the trial, evidence revealed that Lightner and Martinez operated Jomori Health and Wellness, a purported Houston pain management clinic, as a pill mill. Lightner, who owned and served as the physician at Jomori, unlawfully prescribed dangerous combinations of controlled substances, including hydrocodone, carisoprodol, and alprazolam, without a legitimate medical purpose. In return, patients paid cash ranging from $250 to $500.

Martinez, Lightner’s stepson, worked with crew leaders to bring multiple individuals, including those living in homeless shelters, into Jomori. They posed as patients to obtain prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances.

The illicit operation resulted in Jomori receiving over $1.2 million in cash over 14 months. The scheme led to the unlawful distribution and dispensing of more than 600,000 opioids and other controlled substances.

Previously, Lightner had been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for his role in the pill mill clinic.

The announcement was made by Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Houston Division. The DEA conducted the investigation.