Man who posed as physician convicted in Texas pill mill scheme — 5 details

A man who posed as a physician at an unregistered pain clinic in Texas was found guilty of involvement in a pill mill scheme, according to the Department of Justice

Five details:

1. Muhammad Arif, who wasn't licensed to practice medicine in the U.S. and reportedly posed as a physician at Rosenberg, Texas-based Aster Medical Clinic, was found guilty on four counts:

One count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances
Three counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances

His sentencing date hasn't been set.

2. Prosecutors said Mr. Arif conspired with a physician and Aster Medical Clinic's owner to illegally prescribe massive quantities of opioids and other controlled substances from September 2015 through February 2016.

3. Aster Medical Clinic prescribed over 200,000 doses of hydrocodone and over 145,000 doses of carisoprodol, according to evidence presented at trial. "Crew members" posing as patients would obtain prescriptions for controlled substances to be sold on the street.

4. Aster Medical Clinic charged about $250 in cash for each patient visit, evidence showed. On the clinic's busiest days, over 40 people were issued prescriptions.

5. Co-conspirators Baker Niazi and Waleed Khan pleaded guilty to their involvement in the illegal prescription scheme and are awaiting sentencing.

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