The owner of Martinez Pharmacy in Laredo, Antonio Martinez Jr., has agreed to pay $750,000 to settle allegations that his pharmacy violated federal requirements related to recordkeeping and dispensing of controlled substances. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Martinez, 67, serves as the operator and pharmacist-in-charge at the pharmacy, which has been registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) since March 19, 2003. The registration authorizes the pharmacy to dispense Schedule II through IV controlled substances.
According to officials, a DEA inspection in February 2024 found that Martinez Pharmacy failed to maintain necessary records and filled approximately 173 prescriptions for controlled substances issued by practitioners who allegedly lacked a legitimate medical purpose. These prescriptions were also written outside the normal course of professional practice. Regulations require pharmacists to ensure that controlled substances are dispensed only when prescriptions are lawfully issued.
“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.”
Miguel Madrigal, DEA Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division, stated: “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. 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 is designed to prevent diversion of controlled substances into illegal markets while ensuring availability for legitimate uses in medicine and research.
The DEA led the investigation into these allegations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill O. Venezia is managing the case.
Officials emphasized that these claims remain allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
