Orlando, Florida - U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. today sentenced James Long (44, Brevard County) to 15 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. The Court also ordered him to forfeit numerous assets, including cash and real estate properties, which were proceeds traceable to the offense. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 11, 2016.
According to the plea agreement, between 2010 and June 2013, Long and others used the Professional Pain Center located at 860 East State Road 434 in Longwood to cause the distribution and dispensation of controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice and for no legitimate medical purpose.
Long, as president and owner of the clinic, employed approximately 10 physicians who were willing to write unlawful and invalid prescriptions for Schedule II and Schedule III controlled substances. Long admitted that doctors working for his clinic had engaged in a pattern of issuing prescriptions for controlled substances without a legitimate medical reason, outside the usual course of professional practice. According to the plea agreement, any reasonably prudent physician would not have issued such prescriptions for controlled substances in the quantity and combinations prescribed because of the danger of overdose and death, coupled with the likelihood of diversion.
Long and his conspirators also conducted financial transactions involving the drug proceeds to conceal the source of the funds. These transactions generally involved the structuring of cash deposits and the purchase of properties and other assets.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilianys Rivera Miranda.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
