Ohio Physician Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Unlawfully Distributing Opioids

A 74-year-old Ohio physician, Thomas Romano, was sentenced to seven years in prison for unlawfully distributing opioids from his clinic in Martin's Ferry, Ohio. Romano's prescription of over 137,000 pills, including opioids, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxants, between 2014 and 2019, fueled the addiction of nine individuals. In September 2023, a federal jury convicted Romano of 24 counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances. The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the DEA, FBI, HHS-OIG, Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, and Ohio Board of Pharmacy.

Key Takeaways:

Thomas Romano, 74, was sentenced to seven years in prison for unlawfully distributing opioids from his clinic in Martin's Ferry, Ohio.
Romano issued prescriptions for over 137,000 pills, including opioids, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxants, between October 2014 and September 2019.
A federal jury convicted Romano of 24 counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances in violation of the Controlled Substances Act in September 2023.
The investigation into Romano's activities involved multiple agencies, including the DEA, FBI, HHS-OIG, Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, and Ohio Board of Pharmacy.
Trial Attorneys Devon Helfmeyer and Danielle Sakowski, and Counsel Alexis Gregorian of the Criminal Division's Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division's efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program.
Since March 2007, this program has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion.

Statistics:

Over 137,000 prescriptions were issued by Romano between October 2014 and September 2019.
Romano was convicted of 24 counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances.
Since March 2007, the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program has charged over 5,400 defendants.
These defendants collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion.

Sources:

US FBI - [No date provided]
www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit