Texas doctor convicted for running a cash-only opioid pill mill

A federal jury has convicted Barbara Marino, a 65-year-old physician from Tomball, Texas, on serious drug distribution charges. The doctor was found guilty of illegally prescribing highly addictive medications at a Houston clinic known for cash-only transactions. Marino worked as the only prescribing doctor at Angels Clinica in Houston. The clinic operated on a cash-only basis, and she earned over £320,000 in under a year from writing prescriptions. Many of her patients were brought in by street-level drug dealers, who actively recruited them for the clinic.

The prescriptions she issued were almost exclusively for the strongest short-acting versions of drugs like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and carisoprodol. Over 99% of her prescriptions fell into this category. She often combined opioids with carisoprodol, a mix commonly linked to so-called pill mills. One particularly dangerous case involved a pregnant woman in her third trimester. Marino prescribed her hydrocodone and carisoprodol, putting both mother and unborn child at serious risk. Prosecutors argued that her prescriptions lacked any legitimate medical justification. The jury found Marino guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and four counts of distributing a controlled substance. Each charge carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

The conviction highlights the risks of unchecked prescription practices in cash-only clinics. Marino now faces the possibility of decades in prison for her role in distributing powerful, addictive drugs. A sentencing date has not yet been announced.