“D.E.A.-DOJ PALAVA(TROUBLES)”

from DoctorsofCourage.org, by dr linda cheeks,md,. RE-published and reported by youarewithinthenorms.com

NORMAN J CLEMENT RPH., DDS, NORMAN L. CLEMENT PHARM-TECH, MALACHI F. MACKANDAL PHARMD, BELINDA BROWN-PARKER, IN THE SPIRIT OF JOSEPH SOLVO ESQ., INC.T. SPIRIT OF REV. IN THE SPIRIT OF WALTER R. CLEMENT BS., MS, MBA. HARVEY JENKINS MD, PH.D., IN THE SPIRIT OF C.T. VIVIAN, JELANI ZIMBABWE CLEMENT, BS., MBA., IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HON. PATRICE LUMUMBA, IN THE SPIRIT OF ERLIN CLEMENT SR., WALTER F. WRENN III., MD., JULIE KILLINGSWORTH, RENEE BLARE, RPH, DR. TERENCE SASAKI, MD LESLY POMPY MD., CHRISTOPHER RUSSO, MD., NANCY SEEFELDT, WILLIE GUINYARD BS., JOSEPH WEBSTER MD., MBA, BEVERLY C. PRINCE MD., FACS., NEIL ARNAND, MD., RICHARD KAUL, MD., LEROY BAYLOR, JAY K. JOSHI MD., MBA, ADRIENNE EDMUNDSON, ESTER HYATT PH.D., WALTER L. SMITH BS., IN THE SPIRIT OF BRAHM FISHER ESQ., MICHELE ALEXANDER MD., CUDJOE WILDING BS, MARTIN NJOKU, BS., RPH., IN THE SPIRIT OF DEBRA LYNN SHEPHERD, BERES E. MUSCHETT, STRATEGIC ADVISORS

This article from Doctors of Courage presents the case of Dr. Ndubuisi Okafor, a physician convicted of illegally distributing opioids. Still, it frames it as an example of government overreach and the unjust targeting of doctors.

The author, Dr. Linda Cheeks, MD., from Doctors of Courage, details the charges against Dr. Okafor, highlighting the government’s accusations of operating a “pill mill” and the evidence presented at his trial.

However, the piece strongly argues that these charges are fabricated and that the justice system is incentivized to convict doctors for financial gain and to fill prisons. Ultimately, the source is a polemic against the Controlled Substances Act, advocating for its repeal as the only way to protect physicians and ensure patients receive necessary pain treatment.

Linda Cheek, MD

A CASE FOR JUDICIAL MUNCHAUSEN

Ndubuisi J. Okafor, MD, 65, a solo practitioner in Internal Medicine and graduate of Howard University College of Medicine, ran a medical clinic in Washington, D.C. between May 2021 and April 2023. He was charged in 2023 with 16 counts of illegal distribution of opioids.

In 2024, 29 additional counts were added, alleging he used his practice, Okafor Medical Associates, to sell unlawful opioid prescriptions for cash.

On March 21, 2025, he was convicted in court of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (outside the practice of medicine), maintaining a drug-involved premise, and 22 counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances (oxycodone and promethazine with codeine (a cough syrup with an antihistamine).

Lies, lies, and more lies.

When US government agents publish convicting lies against defendants, they must repay the victim for their entire lifetime. THEY are the lawbreakers, and they need to win their case. Here is a perfect example. I can bet that these charges are false, but they write them in the press release like they are factual.

In the April 2024 press release by the US Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia, they claim

 “Okafor would distribute controlled substance prescriptions to co-conspirators whom he knew to be abusing or diverting the medication, in names and addresses requested by his co-conspirators, even when he knew the names or addresses were false.”

“Okafor is alleged to have distributed dangerous and highly addictive controlled substances via medically unnecessary prescriptions to co-conspirators in at least 37 states nationwide and had knowledge that co-conspirators were traveling from the Washington, D.C. metro area to states as far as California, Florida, and Maine to have these illicit prescriptions filled.”

“Okafor was paid in cash by his co-conspirators for each prescription issued.”

According to the DOJ, Dr. Okafor prescribed opioids to numerous people using false identities. Due to his telemedicine, he treated patients in 45 states. But that isn’t illegal. During this time of his treatment, telemedicine was approved because of COVID-19.

The DOJ press release stated that the FBI had received information from law enforcement agencies nationwide regarding prescriptions from Okafor being connected to local drug trafficking networks, and they claimed that Dr. Okafor was aware of this diversion.

They sent undercover agents to him for walk-in appointments. Each individual was prescribed opioids by Okafor after what they called “minimal examination”.

At the trial, they had two patients testify against Dr. Okafor.  How do they accomplish that? 

By threatening the patients with jail time as a drug distributor, they commit perjury.

The government called two medical experts who were paid to say he was “operating a classic pill mill” out of his office with ‘drug deals’ where the prescriptions would be exchanged for cash.

However, in contrast, the defense’s expert witness testified that the prescribing practices he observed in recorded visits between Okafor and patients showed the “process of clinical judgment that defines responsible medicine.”

To prevent him from having a defense, Dr. Okafor has been held without bond since his arrest in April 2023. Judge Bates considered that Dr. Okafor posed a serious risk of flight based on his “extensive history of fraud and deception,” dual citizenship in Nigeria, and the money law enforcement confiscated from him upon his arrest.

The investigation also resulted in the immediate suspension of Okafor’s DEA registration number in September 2023 as he was deemed to be a threat to public health and safety “due to the volume of unlawful distribution of opioids”. This is standard protocol for the DEA when a doctor is targeted.

The real criminals here are U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Matthew R. Galeotti, DOJ Criminal Division, DOJ Fraud analyst Michael Goodrich, FBI Assistant Director David Sundberg, FBI Agent Sean Ryan, HHS/OIG Agent /Maureen R. Dixon, IG Daniel W. Lucas, and DEA Agents Ibrar A. Mian and Jarod Forget, assistant US Attorney Meredith Mayer-Dempsey, Trial Attorney Kathryn Furtado and paralegals Rebecca Walton, Dillon Clark, and Matthew McClarnon.

Other law enforcement divisions listed by the Justice Department press release that reap income from getting involved in this attack who should also pay for their illegal acts are the Apex, North Carolina Police Department, the Warsaw, New York, Police Department, the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Pennsylvania State Police, State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy, and the Noble County, Ohio, Sheriff’s Office.

This case had some interesting factual evidence of how the government targets and then convicts innocent doctors.  First, the DEA sent the doctor an Order to Show Cause to suspend the doctor’s controlled substance registration. 

The doctor can request an administrative hearing, but the accusations are factual if he/she doesn’t. Is there any real justice in having a hearing?  No. The specifics listed in the law to suspend a certificate are not followed.  Any doctor can be found “a danger to public safety”, even if all of his/her actions were proper medicine for patient care. 

How do I know this? Because the same thing happened to me. In my case, the administrative judge even told the DEA lawyer what to do and say throughout the process.

In the case of Dr. Okafor, the complete report of the DEA action to suspend his certificate is HERE. He did not request a hearing, so the “findings” of the DEA became “fact”.  This is then used against him in court. To summarize, the findings included:

Between November 15, 2022, and February 1, 2023, the Registrant unlawfully issued at least eleven prescriptions for promethazine with codeine 6.25-10mg/5ml (a Schedule V opioid) to eleven fictitious individuals to be filled by out-of-state pharmacies. By not fighting this charge with a hearing, the doctor admits, per the DEA procedure, that “this conduct was in violation of federal and state laws and that his conduct was outside the usual course of professional practice.

Another interesting publication is the judge’s decision on some motions by both sides in this case. This is found at https://casetext.com/case/united-states-v-okafor-19. The interesting points learned from this publication are that judges believe that the prosecution’s side is the one to believe.  Even though Judge Bates makes this statement at the beginning,

“The following summary is based on the factual assertions in the indictment and the government’s motions, which the Court relates solely as a summary of what the government intends to prove at trial. The Court’s reliance on these alleged facts for purposes of this opinion should not be construed as an endorsement of their truth, which is a determination for the jury.”

He follows a few paragraphs later as he reviews the motions with:

“In ruling on each, the Court is mindful that it must presume the truth of the government’s proffered facts.”

and

“Taking as true, for now, the evidence the government proffers, there is more than “sufficient” proof “to support a finding” that a conspiracy existed and that Okafor participated in it-“

In the course of his decision-making, he stated that attacks on doctors can be done through the Controlled Substances Act, even though that was not the intent of the law, and the prosecution is misusing the phrase that prohibits the attack of doctors treating patients. 

However, since the justice system reaps benefits from the fines, confiscations, and restitution, plus they help the FBOP fill the prisons’ beds, the judges will not end these attacks alone. He even quotes Ruan as a use against Dr. Okafor.

The only answer to stop these attacks is to repeal the CSA.  We have the explanation as to why that should be a priority. People need to learn it and get behind it. Until that happens, more doctors will have their lives destroyed, and patients will not get the treatment they need for pain. So why haven’t you learned?

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THE NORMS

Briefing Document: The Case of Dr. Ndubuisi Okafor and Allegations of Opioid Distribution

Date: October 26, 2023 (Based on the latest date mentioned in the source) Subject: Review of Information Regarding the Conviction of Dr. Ndubuisi Okafor for Opioid Distribution

Source: Excerpts from a blog post by Linda Cheek, MD, dated Friday, March 2025.

Overview:

This briefing document summarizes the information presented in a blog post concerning the conviction of Dr. Ndubuisi J. Okafor, an internal medicine physician, for charges related to the illegal distribution of opioids. The blog post, written by another physician who claims to have experienced similar issues, strongly argues that Dr. Okafor is innocent and that his prosecution exemplifies a pattern of unjust targeting of doctors by the U.S. government. The author frames the conviction as based on “convicting lies” and highlights perceived flaws and biases within the legal and regulatory systems.

Main Themes and Important Ideas/Facts:

1. Conviction Details:

• Dr. Ndubuisi J. Okafor, a 65-year-old internal medicine physician practicing in Washington, D.C. between May 2021 and April 2023, was convicted on March 21, 2025, of:
• Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (outside the practice of medicine)
• Maintaining a drug-involved premise
• 22 counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances (oxycodone and promethazine with codeine).
• The charges initially filed in 2023 involved 16 counts of illegal opioid distribution, with 29 additional counts added in 2024, alleging the use of his practice, Okafor Medical Associates, to sell unlawful opioid prescriptions for cash.

1. Government Allegations (as presented in the blog post):

• The U.S. Attorney’s Office claimed in an April 2024 press release that Dr. Okafor:
• “would distribute controlled substance prescriptions to co-conspirators whom he knew to be abusing or diverting the medication, in names and addresses requested by his co-conspirators, even when he knew the names or addresses were false.”
• “is alleged to have distributed dangerous and highly addictive controlled substances via medically unnecessary prescriptions to co-conspirators in at least 37 states nationwide and knew that co-conspirators were traveling from the Washington, D.C. metro area to states as far as California, Florida, and Maine to have these illicit prescriptions filled.”
• “was paid in cash by his co-conspirators for each prescription issued.”
• The Department of Justice (DOJ) stated that Dr. Okafor prescribed opioids to individuals using false identities and treated patients in 45 states via telemedicine (which the blog post notes was approved during COVID).
• The FBI allegedly received information from law enforcement agencies nationwide linking Okafor’s prescriptions to local drug trafficking networks, and they claim he was aware of this.
• Undercover agents reportedly received opioid prescriptions from Dr. Okafor after “minimal examination”.

1. Defense Arguments and Criticisms of the Prosecution (as presented in the blog post):

• The blog author asserts that the charges are “false” and that the government publishes “convicting lies”.
• The author questions the credibility of the two patients who testified against Dr. Okafor, suggesting they were threatened with jail time to commit perjury.
• The defense’s expert witness reportedly testified that recorded visits showed the “process of clinical judgment that defines responsible medicine,” contrasting with the prosecution’s paid medical experts who called his practice a “classic pill mill” with “drug deals”.
• The author criticizes Dr. Okafor’s pre-trial detention without bond, citing the judge’s reasoning based on an “extensive history of fraud and deception,” dual citizenship, and confiscated money.
• The suspension of Dr. Okafor’s DEA registration in September 2023 is described as “standard protocol” when a doctor is targeted.
• The author explicitly names several individuals within the U.S. Attorney’s Office, DOJ, FBI, HHS/OIG, DEA, and even local law enforcement agencies, labeling them as “real criminals” who “reap income” from these cases.

1. Critique of the Legal and Regulatory Process:

• The blog post details the DEA’s Order to Show Cause for suspending a doctor’s controlled substance registration. The author argues that not requesting a hearing leads to the accusations becoming “fact” without true justice. The author claims the legal specifics for suspension are not followed and that any doctor can be deemed a “danger to public safety.”
• The author shares a personal anecdote about a similar experience.
• The blog post references a judge’s decision on pre-trial motions, highlighting that judges are inclined to “presume the truth of the government’s proffered facts” at this stage.
• The author interprets the judge’s statements as acknowledging the potential misuse of the Controlled Substances Act against doctors despite the law’s intended purpose. The author believes judges won’t independently stop these “attacks” due to the financial benefits to the justice and prison systems.
• The author mentions the legal precedent of Ruan as being used against Dr. Okafor.

1. Call to Action:

• The blog author concludes that the “only answer to stop these attacks is to repeal the CSA.”
• The author emphasizes the need for people to “learn it and get behind it” to prevent further destruction of doctors’ lives and ensure patients receive necessary pain treatment.

Quotes from the Original Source:

• “Okafor would distribute controlled substance prescriptions to co-conspirators whom he knew to be abusing or diverting the medication, in names and addresses requested by his co-conspirators, even when he knew the names or addresses were false.” (Quoting the US Attorney’s Office press release)
• “Okafor is alleged to have distributed dangerous and highly addictive controlled substances via medically unnecessary prescriptions to co-conspirators in at least 37 states nationwide and had knowledge that co-conspirators were traveling from the Washington, D.C. metro area to states as far as California, Florida, and Maine to have these illicit prescriptions filled.” (Quoting the US Attorney’s Office press release)
• “Okafor was paid in cash by his co-conspirators for each prescription issued.” (Quoting the US Attorney’s Office press release)
• “…operating a classic pill mill out of his office with ‘drug deals’ where the prescriptions would be exchanged for cash.” (Describing the testimony of the government’s medical experts)
• “…process of clinical judgment that defines responsible medicine.” (Describing the testimony of the defense’s expert witness)
• “…extensive history of fraud and deception,” (Quoting Judge Bates’ reasoning for denying bond)
• “due to the volume of unlawful distribution of opioids”. (Quoting the DEA’s reasoning for suspending Okafor’s registration)
• “Between November 15, 2022, and February 1, 2023, Registrant unlawfully issued at least eleven prescriptions for promethazine with codeine 6.25-10mg/5ml (a schedule V opioid) to eleven fictitious individuals to be filled by out-of-state pharmacies.” (Summarizing the DEA’s findings against Dr. Okafor)
• “…this conduct violated federal and state laws and that his conduct was outside the usual course of professional practice.” (Quoting the DEA procedure regarding the implications of not requesting a hearing)
• “The following summary is based on the factual assertions in the indictment and the government’s motions, which the Court relates solely as a summary of what the government intends to prove at trial. The Court’s reliance on these alleged facts for this opinion should not be construed as an endorsement of their truth, which is a determination for the jury.” (Quoting Judge Bates)
• “In ruling on each, the Court is mindful that it must presume the truth of the government’s proffered facts.” (Quoting Judge Bates)
• “Taking as true, for now, the evidence the government proffers, there is more than ‘sufficient’ proof to support a finding that a conspiracy existed and that Okafor participated in it-“ (Quoting Judge Bates)

Analysis:

The provided source presents a highly biased perspective on the conviction of Dr. Okafor. While it offers details about the charges, conviction, and alleged evidence presented by the prosecution, it frames the entire process as a malicious attack on an innocent physician. The author relies heavily on governmental misconduct, perjury, and systemic bias accusations. Recognizing that this document represents one side of the narrative and likely omits or downplays evidence supporting the conviction is crucial. Including specific names of law enforcement and legal professionals as “real criminals” further highlights this source’s adversarial and subjective nature. While the document raises important questions about the potential for overreach in prosecuting physicians for opioid distribution, its conclusions and accusations should be viewed with significant skepticism and require verification from independent and objective sources.

Study Guide: The Case of Ndubuisi Okafor, MD

Key Concepts and Themes

• Opioid Prescription Practices: Understand the allegations against Dr. Okafor regarding the illegal distribution of opioids, including prescribing for cash, to individuals with false identities, and outside the usual course of medical practice.
• Government Prosecution of Physicians: Analyze the author’s perspective on the methods used by the US government and law enforcement agencies (FBI, DEA, DOJ) in prosecuting physicians for drug-related offenses.
• Due Process and Legal Procedures: Examine the legal proceedings in Dr. Okafor’s case, including the initial charges, added counts, conviction, denial of bond, and suspension of his DEA registration.
• Telemedicine and COVID-19: Consider the role of telemedicine in Dr. Okafor’s practice and the author’s argument that his interstate practice during the COVID-19 pandemic was not inherently illegal.
• The Controlled Substances Act (CSA): Understand the author’s critique of the CSA and the argument for its repeal to stop physicians’ prosecution in cases like Dr. Okafor’s.
• The Role of Evidence and Testimony: Analyze the conflicting accounts presented during the trial, including the testimony of patients, government medical experts, and the defense’s expert witness.
• Author’s Bias and Perspective: Recognize the strong opinion and potential biases of the author, Linda Cheek, MD, who believes Dr. Okafor is innocent and the victim of government overreach.
• “Pill Mill” Allegations: Understand the prosecution’s characterization of Dr. Okafor’s practice as a “pill mill” and the defense’s counter-argument that his practices reflected clinical judgment.
• Financial Incentives in the Justice System: Analyze the author’s claim that financial benefits for law enforcement and the prison system contribute to the prosecution of physicians.
• The DEA’s Order to Show Cause: Understand how the DEA can suspend a physician’s controlled substance registration and the implications of not requesting an administrative hearing.

Quiz

1. What were the primary charges against Dr. Ndubuisi Okafor?
2. According to the US Attorney’s Office, what were some of the methods Dr. Okafor allegedly used to distribute opioids illegally?
3. What is the author’s main contention regarding the charges against Dr. Okafor and the actions of the US government?
4. How did the prosecution portray Dr. Okafor’s medical practice during the trial, and what evidence did they present?
5. What was the defense’s argument regarding Dr. Okafor’s prescribing practices, and what evidence did they offer?
6. Judge Bates asked why Dr. Okafor was denied bond following his arrest.
7. What action did the DEA take regarding Dr. Okafor’s registration, and what was the stated reason for this action?
8. According to the author, what are some potential motivations behind the government’s prosecution of physicians like Dr. Okafor?
9. What happened with the DEA’s Order to Show Cause against Dr. Okafor, and what were the implications of his inaction?
10. What is the author’s proposed solution to prevent future cases similar to Dr. Okafor?

Quiz Answer Key

1. Dr. Okafor was primarily charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (outside the practice of medicine), maintaining a drug-involved premise, and multiple counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances, specifically oxycodone and promethazine with codeine.
2. The US Attorney’s Office claimed that Dr. Okafor distributed prescriptions to co-conspirators he knew were abusing or diverting the medication, using names and addresses they provided (even if false), and that he received cash payments for these prescriptions.
3. The author believes that the charges against Dr. Okafor are false and represent an example of the US government and law enforcement wrongly targeting and prosecuting innocent physicians, potentially for their own gain.
4. The prosecution portrayed Dr. Okafor’s practice as a “classic pill mill” where prescriptions were essentially exchanged for cash, presenting testimony from patients (allegedly coerced) and paid medical experts to support this characterization.
5. The defense argued that Dr. Okafor’s prescribing practices, as observed in recorded visits, demonstrated a “process of clinical judgment that defines responsible medicine,” as their expert witness stated.
6. Judge Bates denied Dr. Okafor bond because he considered him a serious risk of flight based on his “extensive history of fraud and deception,” his dual citizenship in Nigeria, and the money confiscated from him upon his arrest.
7. The DEA immediately suspended Dr. Okafor’s DEA registration number in September 2023, stating that he was deemed a threat to public health and safety due to the “volume of unlawful distribution of opioids.”
8. The author suggests that the government might be motivated by financial gains from fines, confiscations, and restitution, as well as the desire to fill prison beds, leading to the targeting of physicians.
9. Dr. Okafor did not request an administrative hearing in response to the DEA’s Order to Show Cause. According to DEA procedure, the accusations in the order became accepted as “fact” and were later used against him in court.
10. The author’s proposed solution to prevent similar cases is to repeal the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which she believes is being misused to attack doctors treating patients.

Essay Format Questions

1. Analyze the author’s arguments against the US government’s prosecution of Dr. Ndubuisi Okafor. What specific evidence or reasoning does she provide to support her claims of his innocence and government misconduct? Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of her perspective.
2. Discuss the role of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in the case of Dr. Ndubuisi Okafor, according to the provided text. Explain the author’s viewpoint on the CSA and her rationale for advocating its repeal. Considering both the author’s arguments and potential counterarguments, what are the potential implications of such a repeal?
3. Compare and contrast the prosecution’s portrayal of Dr. Okafor’s medical practice as a “pill mill” with the defense’s argument that his actions constituted “responsible medicine.” What evidence was presented by each side to support their characterization? How does the author interpret this conflict in narratives?
4. Examine the legal procedures and decisions in Dr. Okafor’s case, including his arrest, the denial of bond, the suspension of his DEA registration, and conviction. According to the author, were these procedures fair and just? Discuss the author’s criticisms of the judicial system and the DEA in this context.
5. Consider the author’s assertion that financial incentives within the justice system contribute to the prosecution of physicians in drug-related cases. Analyze the evidence or reasoning she provides for this claim. What are the potential broader implications of such a system, and what alternative approaches could be considered?