A physician from Edinburg and his son have admitted to a scheme involving kickbacks in return for referring prescriptions to local pharmacies. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Dr. Tajul Shams Chowdhury, 75, who runs the Center for Pain Management in Edinburg, and his son, Mohammad Imtiaz Chowdhury, 43, who worked as a marketer for a pharmacy, pleaded guilty to the charges.
Court documents reveal that Dr. Chowdhury's clinic referred prescriptions for expensive compound drugs in exchange for payments made to Mohammad Chowdhury by the pharmacy. These kickback payments amounted to $6.6 million.
The father and son have been allowed to remain on bond while they await sentencing, which is set for March 25 before Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane.
The investigation involved several agencies including the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (OIG), Department of Labor – OIG, FBI, Department of Defense – Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Department of Veteran Affairs – OIG, Department of Health and Human Services - OIG, and Texas Health and Human Services - OIG. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Swartz is leading the prosecution.