A physician in Texas was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison for operating a medical clinic as an illegal pill mill.
Maryam Qayum, MD, owned, operated and was the sole prescriber at Recare Health Clinic in Houston. The clinic was operated as a cash-only pill mill, and Dr. Qayum issued prescriptions without a legitimate medical purpose, according to an Aug. 5 news release from the Justice Department.
Between 2022 and 2025, Dr. Qayum issued more than 3 million prescriptions for opioids including oxycodone and hydrocodone. Law enforcement shut down the clinic in 2025.
According to court documents, a prescription for oxycodone cost as much as $500, while hydrocodone prescriptions were often $300.
In March 2026, Dr. Qayum pleaded guilty to conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances.
Four other defendants were previously sentenced in the case, the release said.
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