CINCINNATI — A former Ohio medical clinic doctor has pleaded guilty to illegal possession of painkillers.
James Lassiter was one of six doctors accused in a federal indictment last year of prescribing pain medication without performing meaningful examinations of patients.
The indictment also alleged the 59-year-old Lassiter opened an unlicensed dispensary after legitimate pharmacists refused to fill prescriptions.
Lassiter pleaded guilty Friday to one count of illegally acquiring painkillers by writing prescriptions without ascertaining whether they were for legitimate medical purposes.
No sentencing date was set by Cincinnati federal judge Michael Barrett.
A message was left for Lassiter's attorney.
A 2012 indictment alleges dozens of customers would travel hundreds of miles weekly to visit the clinics in southern and central Ohio and pay $200 per visit for painkillers.
