Back to All NewsOwner and Employees of Medical Spa Facing Federal Indictment for Oxycodone Distribution Conspiracy
Posted By American Med Spa Association, Tuesday, March 9, 2021
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A federal grand jury has indicted the owner and operator of a purported pain management clinic, as well as two nurse practitioners who were employed at the clinic, on the federal charges for conspiracy to distribute and dispense oxycodone and for distribution and dispensing of oxycodone. Charged in the indictment are:
The indictment was returned on March 3, 2021, and unsealed March 5, 2021, at the initial appearances of the defendants.
According to the eight-count indictment, from February 2017 to February 2020, Joyce Shawanda Edwards owned and operated Personal Touch Medical Spa, LLP (PTMS), formerly known as Holistic Health and Wellness Medical Spa LLP, a purported “pain management” clinic located in Largo, Maryland, which the indictment alleges was, in reality, a “pill mill.” A pill mill is a health care provider’s office, clinic or health care facility that routinely prescribes and dispenses controlled substances outside the scope of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. According to the indictment, Justina Aburime was a nurse practitioner who worked at PTMS from February 2017 until she left in August 2018, at which time Thomas Charles Johnson, Jr., who was also a nurse practitioner, began working at PTMS. Aburime and Johnson were both authorized to prescribe controlled substances for legitimate medical purposes and in the course of professional practice.
Read more at the U.S. Department of Justice >>
The indictment was returned on March 3, 2021, and unsealed March 5, 2021, at the initial appearances of the defendants.
According to the eight-count indictment, from February 2017 to February 2020, Joyce Shawanda Edwards owned and operated Personal Touch Medical Spa, LLP (PTMS), formerly known as Holistic Health and Wellness Medical Spa LLP, a purported “pain management” clinic located in Largo, Maryland, which the indictment alleges was, in reality, a “pill mill.” A pill mill is a health care provider’s office, clinic or health care facility that routinely prescribes and dispenses controlled substances outside the scope of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. According to the indictment, Justina Aburime was a nurse practitioner who worked at PTMS from February 2017 until she left in August 2018, at which time Thomas Charles Johnson, Jr., who was also a nurse practitioner, began working at PTMS. Aburime and Johnson were both authorized to prescribe controlled substances for legitimate medical purposes and in the course of professional practice.
Read more at the U.S. Department of Justice >>
