Ohio physician indicted for allegedly operating ‘pill mill’ that distributed controlled substances; caused the deaths of 2 patients

Martin Escobar, age 57, of Youngstown, was indicted by a federal grand jury in a 145-count indictment charging the unlawful distribution and dispensation of controlled substances, causing the deaths of two patients, maintaining a drug-involved premises, health care fraud and unlawfully distributing and dispensing a controlled substance to a person under the age of 21.   

The indictment alleges that between March 2015 and May 2019, Escobar prescribed opioids and other controlled substances out of his Lake Milton medical office, including opioids such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, often in combination with benzodiazepines and stimulants, all outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.