What Happened
In August 2024, David Carlos Rodriguez Jr., 50, of Florence, South Carolina, a doctor who practiced in Lake City, pleaded guilty to distributing oxycodone outside the scope of medical practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. Evidence showed he prescribed oxycodone to one patient 15 times between May 2018 and January 2019, including after a pharmacist flagged a conflict with her Suboxone prescription, and that he kept only basic records. The patient believed the arrangement was a trade of sexual behavior for prescriptions. He faces up to 20 years in prison and, as part of the plea, surrendered his state and federal prescribing privileges.
“Rodriguez, Jr., 50, of Florence, has pleaded guilty to distributing Oxycodone outside the scope of medical practice and without a legitimate medical purpose.”
Related Guidance
- 15 Red Flags of Drug Diversion — Behavioral and transactional indicators of diversion.
- Investigation Playbook — How to investigate suspected diversion inside an organization.