ROANOKE Va. (WFXR)- A South Carolina businessman who purchased pain clinics throughout the Western District of Virginia was sentenced to three years and nine months in federal prison.
John Gregory Barnes, 59, previously pleaded guilty in July 2023 to conspiring to commit health care fraud, distribute Suboxone (buprenorphine) without a legitimate medical purpose, and use of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration numbers of other people, according to U.S. Attorney Robert Tracci, Barnes also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, hydrocodone, morphine, and oxycodone without a legitimate medical purpose.
Barnes’ company L5 Medical Holdings had pain clinics in Christiansburg, Lynchburg, Madison Heights, and Woodlawn. He was the last defendant in Operation Mountain Highlands, which resulted in the convictions of a half-dozen medical professionals and business people associated with L5 Medical Holdings. Two doctors and a nurse permanently surrendered their medical licenses and Barnes and the company’s CEO, Jennifer Adams, agreed to never do business in the region again…