A 70-year-old Texas physician, James Robles of Weslaco, has been charged with illegally prescribing and distributing millions of opioid pills with the intent of profiting from their resale on the streets.

Opioid Distribution Scheme

According to allegations, Robles used a cash-only medical clinic in Houston to dispense prescriptions for potent controlled substances. The Office of Public Affairs announced on Thursday that Robles is accused of diverting over 5 million pills into illegal circulation.

Recruitment and Resale

The scheme allegedly involved recruiting individuals to pose as patients, whom Robles never examined. He reportedly utilized 'crew leaders' to gather prescriptions from him, who then recruited others to fill those prescriptions at various pharmacies.

These individuals would then resell the obtained pills on the black market, completing the cycle of illegal distribution.

Scale of the Prescriptions

Over a four-year period, Robles is accused of prescribing approximately 2.9 million hydrocodone pills, 1.3 million oxycodone pills, and 1.1 million carisoprodol pills. This demonstrates the significant volume of opioids involved in the alleged operation.

Financial Gains

Authorities discovered that more than $2 million in cash was deposited into bank accounts controlled by Robles within less than three years during the alleged conspiracy. This substantial sum highlights the financial motivation behind the illicit activities.

Charges and Potential Penalties

Robles currently faces three charges: one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances, one count of distributing and dispensing controlled substances, and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises.

If convicted on all counts, Robles faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each charge, underscoring the severity of the accusations and the government’s commitment to combating opioid trafficking.