Roanoke, Virginia – Jennifer Adams, the former chief operating officer (COO) and practice manager of a network of pain clinics in southwest Virginia, has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison. Adams, 52, from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, was a key figure in running the clinics under L5 Medical Holdings, doing business as “Pain Care Centers”, despite having no medical background.
The clinics were located in several Virginia towns, including Woodlawn, Lynchburg, Madison Heights, Blacksburg, and Christiansburg. Adams worked closely with John Barnes, a former mortgage broker who also had no medical training but ran the clinics starting in 2014. Together, they were responsible for overseeing a system where medical decisions were influenced by non-medical staff, putting patients at significant risk.
What Were the Crimes?
In November 2024, Adams pleaded guilty to charges related to her role in hiding illegal opioid prescribing practices and healthcare fraud. Court documents revealed that she supported actions that led to unnecessary opioid prescriptions. This included allowing non-medical personnel to decide what drugs should be prescribed to patients without proper medical evaluations.
One shocking revelation was that Dr. Wendell Randall, a practitioner at the clinic, was prescribing medications without providing legitimate care. Employees raised concerns, calling him a “quack” and a “train wreck.” They even questioned whether he was a real doctor. Adams knew about these issues but did nothing to stop them.
Adams also allowed L5 Medical Holdings to use doctors’ prescribing credentials to distribute Suboxone, a drug used to treat opioid addiction, without the doctors actually evaluating the patients. This was done illegally and put many patients at risk.
Overbilling and Fraud
Adams was also involved in shaping drug testing policies that were designed to overbill insurance providers. This added another layer of fraud to the clinic’s already questionable practices.
Federal Investigation
The case was investigated by multiple federal and state agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, Virginia State Police, and the Virginia Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Prosecutors S. Cagle Juhan and Jason M. Scheff led the legal case against Adams.
Zachary T. Lee, the Acting United States Attorney, along with other federal and state leaders, announced the sentencing, stressing the impact of Adams’ actions and the harm caused by the fraudulent activities at the pain clinics.
Adams’ sentencing is a significant step in efforts to combat healthcare fraud and the illegal distribution of opioids in Virginia and beyond. Her actions, which endangered public health and contributed to the opioid crisis, have now led to a 3-year prison term, sending a strong message to those involved in similar illegal activities.
