South Florida Pill Mill Doctor Sentence To 220 Months In Prison
Contact: Public Information Officer
Number: 954-660-4602
MIAMI - Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement (DEA), Miami Field Division, and Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, announced last week that Dr. Thomas James Rodenberg was sentenced before Broward Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey R. Levenson to 220 months in state prison with a minimum/mandatory 15 years, a $250,000 fine, followed by 18 months community control and 10 years’ probation. After a three week jury trial in January 2014, Dr. Rodenberg was found guilty on 14 counts, including: racketeering; trafficking in oxycodone; conspiracy to traffic in oxycodone; and delivery of oxycodone, hydrocodone, alprazolam and methadone.
DEA Special Agent in Charge Mark R. Trouville stated, "This judicial action is the end game for pill mill doctors like Dr. Rodenberg, who let their greed overcome their morals and common sense that endangers the public health and safety. The DEA remains committed to working with our state and local partners to ensure pharmaceutical medicines are being used for legitimate medical needs."
“I thank the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Broward Sheriff’s Office for their outstanding collaboration in helping bring this dangerous drug dealer to justice,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “Just this week, we announced a decline in the number of prescription drug related deaths, and the decline is in large part due to strong collaborations, such as this one.”
Dr. Rodenberg was one of 11 defendants who were arrested in August of 2012, after an investigation in to Pompano Beach Medical. During the investigation, undercover agents visited the clinic posing as patients. On multiple occasions, the officers were prescribed controlled substances despite the fact there were no pathologies supporting a legitimate medical need. Law enforcement officers received a total of 55 prescriptions for controlled substances, which included 2,968 dosage units of oxycodone.
This investigation was conducted by the DEA Miami Tactical Diversion (TDS) and BSO Deerfield Selective Enforcement Team. The DEA Miami TDS is comprised of the following: DEA, BSO, Miami-Dade Police Department, Hollywood Police Department, Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, City of Sunrise Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol, Ft. Lauderdale Police Department, and the City of Miami Police Department. This case was prosecuted by the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.
