Great Lakes Wire

Dr. Charise Valentine, 69, of Southfield, has been sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted by a jury on charges of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute prescription opioids and ten counts of illegal distribution of Oxycodone and Oxymorphone. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., with participation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Detroit Division and 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 delivered the sentence. According to court records, Valentine worked as one of two doctors at Orthopedic Medical Building in Oak Park, Michigan—a clinic described by prosecutors as a sham operation functioning out of a warehouse that only accepted cash payments for prescriptions. From November 2016 through July 2018, Valentine issued more than 3,000 prescriptions for over 200,000 opioid pills to individuals who did not have legitimate medical needs.

The operation involved “patient recruiters/marketers” bringing people to the clinic, where they were charged between $200 and $500 per prescription based on the type and quantity of opioids prescribed—primarily Oxycodone 30mg or Oxymorphone 40mg. The clinic also created fraudulent medical records for these supposed patients for additional cash fees.

Prosecutors said Dr. Valentine received about half the proceeds from these activities—over $500,000 in cash during a span of roughly nineteen months—and was paid only when she wrote an opioid prescription rather than for providing any real medical care.

Other defendants in this case—including clinic operator Iris Winchester, Dr. Michele Ritter (the other doctor at the clinic), and recruiter Joyce Robinson—previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison terms.

“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 Chicago Regional Office.“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.”

The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew J. Lievense and Wayne F. Pratt as part of efforts under an Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit initiative by the Department of Justice focused on targeting those contributing significantly to nationwide opioid abuse using data-driven approaches.

The investigation was conducted jointly by agents from both federal agencies involved.