Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan | Department of Justice
Dr. Charise Valentine, 69, of Southfield, was sentenced to six years in prison for her role in a scheme to illegally prescribe more than 200,000 opioid pills valued at over $5.2 million. The sentencing follows her conviction by a jury on charges of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute prescription opioids and ten counts of illegal distribution of Oxycodone and Oxymorphone.
United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced the sentence along with Acting Special Agent in Charge Reuben Coleman of the FBI’s Detroit Division and Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s Chicago Regional Office.
U.S. District Judge Terrence G. Berg presided over the trial and imposed the sentence. According to court records, between November 2016 and July 2018, Dr. Valentine worked at Orthopedic Medical Building in Oak Park, Michigan—a cash-only clinic described as a sham operation—where she issued more than 3,000 prescriptions for opioids to individuals who did not have legitimate medical needs.
The clinic operated out of a warehouse and charged patients $200-500 per prescription but only collected payment if an opioid prescription was provided. The amount charged depended on the type and dosage of opioids prescribed rather than any actual medical service rendered.
Investigators found that most patients were brought to the clinic by recruiters or marketers, and fraudulent medical records were created for these individuals in exchange for cash payments.
Dr. Valentine received about half of the clinic’s proceeds—over $500,000 in cash during approximately 19 months—and was paid solely based on writing opioid prescriptions rather than providing medical care.
Other defendants involved in the case—including clinic operator Iris Winchester, Dr. Michele Ritter (the other physician at the clinic), and recruiter Joyce Robinson—previously pleaded guilty and received prison sentences.
“Doctors take an oath to heal, not poison. As a doctor, this defendant knew better than anyone the devastating harm that opioid addiction causes to people. There is no place in our community for corrupt doctors,” said Gorgon.
“Dr. Valentine’s sentencing sends a clear message that the FBI will not tolerate any medical professional who stands to gain personally from abusing their position and endangering the public by illegally prescribing opioids,” said Reuben Coleman, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “We are grateful for our strong partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General throughout the entire investigation, and we remain in lockstep with our partners on pursuing these fraudulent medical schemes to save countless lives.”
“As today’s sentencing demonstrates, physicians who endanger patients and engage in the unlawful distribution of prescription opioids will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of HHS-OIG.“Our agency will continue to work in concert with our law enforcement partners to protect patients and the integrity of our federal health care programs.”
Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew J. Lievense and Wayne F. Pratt prosecuted this case as part of efforts under the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit—a Department of Justice initiative focused on using data analytics to identify those contributing significantly to opioid abuse nationwide.
The investigation involved special agents from both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Health & Human Services-Office Of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
