A former doctor linked to seven overdose deaths was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in federal prison for running a suspected pill mill.
Howard Gregg Diamond pleaded guilty in October to one count of health care fraud and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances.
He received 10 years for the health care fraud charge, which will run concurrently with his 20-year sentence. He is also required to pay $3,139 in restitution and will be on supervised release for five years after his prison term ends, federal court records show.
Diamond gave up his medical license in October 2017. He was indicted on federal charges in July 2017.
The former doctor ran a booming pain management practice, and, in 2014, was ranked No. 2 among doctors of all specialities for both morphine and oxycodone, according to ProPublica's analysis of Medicare data.
He was linked to seven overdose deaths, three of which were in Texas.
Tammy Curtis-Betterton, 48, died of a drug overdose in February 2016. The McKinney resident's death was one of seven overdose deaths linked to Diamond, who had pain management offices in Sherman and Paris.
Her sister, Kaylynn Curtis-Rhodes, testified during the sentencing hearing Thursday. She told the judge her sister was young and has missed watching her three grandchildren grow up and seeing her daughter's wedding.
Several of Diamond's past patients were in court Thursday to show their support.
Diamond said he is sorry for the circumstances and the pain his practice caused.
The former doctor also said he hopes to have an opportunity to show value in his community and help educate others on the dangers of prescription drugs.
Prosecutors said Diamond used his medical license to essentially become a drug dealer, but defense attorney Pete Schulte said his client never purposely over-prescribed drugs to anyone. Schulte said Diamond got behind on business and started writing prescriptions he should not have written.
