What Happened
Dr. Brian August of El Paso, Texas, agreed in January 2026 to pay $200,000 to resolve allegations that he violated the Controlled Substances Act, the False Claims Act and the Texas Health Care Program Fraud Prevention Act. The United States alleged he issued 255 controlled substance prescriptions to 15 individuals between December 2017 and May 2021, including opioids, carisoprodol, zolpidem and benzodiazepines, without meeting Texas pain-treatment requirements or documenting a legitimate medical purpose. As a condition of settlement he surrendered his Texas medical license and previously gave up his DEA registration. The claims are allegations only, with no determination of liability.
“August previously surrendered his DEA registration and will not seek a new registration.”
Related Guidance
- 15 Red Flags of Drug Diversion — Behavioral and transactional indicators of diversion.
- Investigation Playbook — How to investigate suspected diversion inside an organization.