An Ohio physician, Thomas Romano, 74, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for unlawfully distributing opioids from his clinic. The sentence comes after Romano was found guilty of 24 counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.
The court documents revealed that Romano's pain management clinic in Martin’s Ferry, Ohio, was a hub where individuals traveled long distances to obtain prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances. The prescriptions issued by Romano greatly exceeded recommended dosages and were in dangerous combinations that fueled addiction. Over a five-year period, Romano prescribed over 137,000 pills, including opioids, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxants, to nine individuals.
In a statement, Principal Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, along with officials from the DEA, FBI, and HHS-OIG, announced the sentencing. Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the DEA Detroit Field Division, Special Agent in Charge J. William Rivers of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the HHS-OIG were also involved in the investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Devon Helfmeyer and Danielle Sakowski, along with Counsel Alexis Gregorian. The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the DEA, FBI, HHS-OIG, Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, and Ohio Board of Pharmacy.
The sentencing of Thomas Romano highlights the ongoing efforts to combat health care fraud, particularly in cases involving the unlawful distribution of opioids. Such cases are part of the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, which aims to hold accountable those involved in health care fraud schemes.