Texas Doctor Convicted for Flooding Houston with Addictive Opioid Prescriptions

A federal jury in Texas has convicted Barbara Marino, a 65-year-old physician from Tomball, on multiple drug distribution charges. The case centred on her role in prescribing highly addictive medications without medical justification at a Houston clinic. Marino worked as the only prescribing doctor at Angels Clinica, a cash-only facility in Houston. Over a short period, she issued over a million opioid pills, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, and carisoprodol. More than 99% of her prescriptions were for the strongest short-acting versions of these drugs.

Investigators found that Marino routinely prescribed a dangerous combination of opioids and carisoprodol to nearly every patient. This mixture is often linked to illegal pill mills. One patient, diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, received the same drug combination repeatedly despite their severe mental health struggles. The clinic also saw pregnant women seeking prescriptions. In one case, Marino gave hydrocodone and carisoprodol to a woman in her third trimester, putting both mother and child at risk. Many patients were brought in by street-level dealers who later sold the pills illegally. Marino earned over $400,000 in under a year from the clinic’s owners for writing these prescriptions. The jury ultimately found her guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and four counts of distributing them unlawfully.

The conviction follows evidence that Marino’s prescriptions lacked legitimate medical purpose. Her actions contributed to the illegal distribution of highly addictive drugs in the Houston area. She now faces sentencing for her role in the scheme.