Former Martinsville doctor convicted for distributing controlled substances illegally
Martinsville, Virginia – A Martinsville-based physician, Joel Smithers, was convicted on multiple federal drug charges following a three-week jury trial in U.S. District Court in Abingdon. Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee announced the outcome, emphasizing the severity of Smithers’ actions and the damage caused to his patients and community.
Smithers, 42, was found guilty of 466 counts of illegally prescribing Schedule II controlled substances and one count of maintaining a place for the illegal distribution of controlled substances. The jury reached its verdict after deliberating for sixteen hours.
“Patients trust doctors to make decisions based on their healthcare needs, not a perversion of their own greed,” Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee said. “For many years, this defendant betrayed the trust placed in him by his patients, his community, and the medical profession as a whole through his illegal distribution of thousands of medically unnecessary opioids. I am grateful to the entire prosecution team for brining this case to justice.”
Pill Mill Operations in Martinsville
Evidence presented at trial revealed that Smithers opened his Martinsville office in August 2015, creating what prosecutors described as a “pill mill.” He prescribed controlled substances to every patient, distributing over 500,000 Schedule II drugs, including oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydromorphone, and fentanyl.
Patients often traveled hundreds of miles to obtain prescriptions from Smithers, who did not accept insurance and instead collected over $700,000 in cash and credit card payments. His operation continued until March 7, 2017, when authorities executed a search warrant at his office.
DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Shane Todd condemned Smithers’ practices, stating, “Healthcare providers have a responsibility to prescribe medications properly. Smithers’ reckless actions prioritized profits over human lives, endangering his patients and their families.”
“Physicians have critical roles in addressing the opioid epidemic and ensuring appropriate care for patients with pain and other illness. Healthcare providers have a vital responsibility when it comes to properly prescribing and dispensing medications and must be vigilant to prevent diversion. This conviction demonstrates Smithers’s criminal indifference to the lives of others, and to the families who loved them. His reckless and fraudulent practices placed profits over the lives of his patients. We’re working hard with our partners to keep our communities and families safe from such tragic outcomes.”
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares also weighed in, noting, “Smithers violated the Hippocratic Oath and exploited vulnerable individuals for profit. My thanks go to the investigators and prosecutors who worked tirelessly to bring him to justice.”
“The existence of these ‘pill mills’ flooding southwest Virginia with controlled substances violates one of the first principles of the Hippocratic Oath: to do no harm. Joel Smithers did not seek to treat patients but rather sought to destroy lives for profit. I am grateful to both the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for their resilience and professionalism in this and many other instances. My special thanks goes out to Virginia’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for their exemplary work in keeping our citizens safe.”
Retrial and Sentencing
This case marks Smithers’ second conviction. Originally found guilty in 2019, Smithers faced a retrial after a U.S. Supreme Court decision altered the legal framework for jury instructions in cases involving healthcare providers and the illegal distribution of controlled substances.
Smithers has remained in custody since his initial conviction. Sentencing is scheduled for March 3, 2025, in Abingdon. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine for each of the 466 distribution counts. Additionally, the charge of maintaining a place for illegal drug distribution carries a maximum sentence of 20 years and a $500,000 fine.
Coordinated Efforts to Tackle Drug Crimes
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad and the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Law enforcement agencies from Bristol, Martinsville, Buena Vista, Roanoke, Henry County, Pittsylvania County, and the Virginia State Police also contributed to the investigation.
Prosecution of the case was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randy Ramseyer and Corey Hall, along with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen.
