Laredo Pharmacist Pays Six Figures to Settle Controlled Substance Act Violations
HOUSTON – The owner of Martinez Pharmacy in Laredo has agreed to pay $750,000 to resolve allegations his pharmacy violated federal recordkeeping and dispensing requirements, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Miguel Madrigal of the San Antonio Division and U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Antonio Martinez Jr., 67, is the operator and pharmacist-in-charge. The pharmacy registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration March 19, 2003, and is authorized to dispense Schedule II through IV controlled substances.
In February 2024, DEA conducted an on-site inspection of Martinez Pharmacy and found it failed to maintain required records and filled approximately 173 prescriptions for controlled substances that practitioners without a legitimate medical purpose allegedly issued. They were also written outside the usual course of professional practice. DEA regulations place a corresponding liability on pharmacists to dispense lawfully issued controlled substance prescriptions.
“Pharmacists must ensure controlled substances are dispensed safely and only for legitimate medical purposes,” said Ganjei. “These violations represent a serious breach of a pharmacist’s duty to protect the wellbeing and safety of our community. My office takes prescription drug diversion extremely seriously, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure full accountability when the facts warrant it.”
“When DEA Diversion investigators inspected Martinez Pharmacy in Laredo, they uncovered a troubling pattern of record-keeping violations, including more than 170 improperly dispensed prescriptions,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division Miguel Madrigal. “This type of negligent behavior endangers the community, and this significant settlement demonstrates that pharmacies must take their responsibilities seriously or face hefty consequences.”
The Controlled Substances Act and its implementing regulations seek to deter, detect and eliminate the diversion of controlled substances and listed chemicals into the illicit market while ensuring that an adequate supply of controlled substances and listed chemicals is available for legitimate medical, scientific, research and industrial purposes.
The DEA conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill O. Venezia is handling the case.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
