Texas Border Business
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas
McALLEN, Texas – A 75-year-old Edinburg physician and his 43-year-old son both pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive kickbacks in exchange for referring prescriptions to local pharmacies, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Dr. Tajul Shams Chowdhury, a licensed physician, owned and operated a medical practice in Edinburg called Center for Pain Management. His son, Mohammad Imtiaz Chowdhury, worked as a purported marketer for a local pharmacy.
According to court documents, prescriptions for costly compound drugs were referred from Dr. Chowdhury’s clinic in exchange for kickback payments made from the pharmacy to Mohammad Chowdhury.
In total, Mohammad Chowdhury was paid $6.6 million in kickbacks as part of the scheme.
Both men were permitted to remain on bond pending their sentencing, which is currently scheduled for March 25 before Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane.
The U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (OIG), Department of Labor – OIG, FBI, Department of Defense – Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Department of Veteran Affairs – OIG, Department of Health and Human Services – OIG and Texas Health and Human Services – OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Swartz is prosecuting the case.
Updated January 13, 2025
