Texas Court Orders Indian-Origin Pharmacist to Pay Civil Penalty for Improper Opioid Dispensing

An Indian-origin man, Jitendra Chaudhary, and his pharmacy, Zarzamora Healthcare LLC, doing business as Rite-Away Pharmacy & Medical Supply, in San Antonio, have been ordered by a Texas court to pay a $275,000 civil penalty. The court also imposed restrictions on the dispensing of opioids and other controlled substances by the defendants.

This action was taken after a civil complaint alleged that the defendants repeatedly dispensed opioids and other controlled substances in violation of the Controlled Substances Act. The defendants had filled prescriptions while ignoring “red flags,” indicating that the prescriptions had no legitimate medical use. The case was investigated by the DEA’s San Antonio District Office Tactical Diversion Squad.