TWO CIVIL COMPLAINTS FILED IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI AS PART OF NATIONAL HEALTH CARE FRAUD TAKEDOWN

United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi announces the filing of two civil enforcement actions against four defendants seeking civil and monetary penalties for their violations of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention Control Action of 1970 ("Controlled Substances Act" or "CSA"). The two civil complaints filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice's 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.

"These cases demonstrate that we will hold accountable those who exploit the rules implemented to protect against the diversion of opioids," said U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger. "Our office is committed to working with state and federal law enforcement partners to prosecute those who contribute to prescription drug abuse and health care fraud."

The charges announced by U.S. Attorney Kruger are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. The Takedown represents a new era in federal, state, and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: charges in 56 federal districts and involving 45 U.S. states and territories, the most in Department history. In addition, unprecedented international cooperation over the two-week Takedown resulted in the apprehension and return to the United States of the following health care fraudsters: one defendant in Kyrenia in connection with an over $3.7 billion scheme; two defendants in Estonia in connection with a previously charged $10.6 billion scheme; and, in the Philippines, one of FBI's Most Wanted Fraudsters in connection with a $1.2 billion telemedicine scheme. Takedown involves the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; seize over $182 million in cash, houses, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets; and provide full spectrum accountability for all criminal actors from doctor's offices to corporate boardrooms.

The Southern District of Mississippi, in particular, worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration to investigate and pursue these cases filed during the Takedown:

According to the filed civil complaint, defendant Clint's Pharmacy, formerly owned and operated by defendant Clint Bane, located in Brookhaven, Mississippi, could not account for 11,853 controlled substance pills following on-site regulatory inspections. Each unaccounted pill constitutes a CSA recordkeeping violation. The United States alleges two claims: (1) refusal to comply with CSA record-keeping requirements, which carries a penalty of up to $19,246 for each violation and (2) unlawful dispensing of a controlled substance, which carries a penalty of up to $82,950 for each violation. This case is being handled by James E. Graves, III of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi.

The United States alleges in a second complaint, that defendant Rommel Asagwara, age 42, of Kansas City, Missouri, and owner of Lemmor Holdings, LLC d/b/a Dream Weight Clinic, negligently dispensed controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice. As alleged in the complaint, Asagwara, while operating Dream Weight Clinic, failed to keep controlled substances at the registered location and failed to maintain adequate records and inventory of over 433,000 controlled substances. The United States is seeking over $8 billion for each of the 433,000 unaccounted for pills and other CSA violations. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Keesha Middleton of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ("Fraud Division"). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department's work to combat fraud supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

Descriptions of each case involved in today's National Health Care Fraud Takedown are available on the Department's website here.

An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.