A Southfield physician convicted for her role in a $20 million conspiracy to illegally prescribe opioid pills has been sentenced, federal officials said.

Charise Valentine, 69, was sentenced Wednesday by a U.S. District Judge to six years in prison for charges of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute prescription opioids and 10 counts of illegal distribution of oxycodone and oxymorphone, according to Jerome Gorgon, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.

“Doctors take an oath to heal, not poison,” Gorgon said in a statement. “As a doctor, this defendant knew better than anyone the devastating harm that opioid addiction causes to people. There is no place in our community for corrupt doctors.”

Valentine’s attorney, Gerald J. Gleeson II, said: “We respect the jury’s decision.  However, Dr. Valentine will likely appeal.”

She faced up to 20 years in prison.

Authorities alleged the defendant was among five people, including another doctor, indicted in 2018 for allegedly running a $20 million conspiracy to unlawfully distribute prescription opioids.

Investigators accused her and a physician at Orthopedic Medical Building Inc. in Oak Park of issuing and dispensing a large amount of prescription opioids to fake patients who did not have a legitimate medical need.

Officials said Valentine issued more than 3,000 prescriptions for more than 200,000 pills to supposed “patients” from November 2016 until July 2018.

They alleged the clinic was fake, accepted only cash, and charged patients $200 to $500 per prescription. However, patients were not charged if they didn’t get an opioid prescription. Agents also said the prices were not based on the service provided but on the quantity, type, and dosage of prescription opioids.

Prosecutors alleged Valentine was paid about 50% of the clinic’s proceeds, or more than $500,000 in cash, over about 19 months. They said she was only paid if she wrote an opioid prescription to a patient.

The other defendants charged in the case previously pleaded guilty.

“Dr. Valentine’s sentencing sends a clear message that the FBI will not tolerate any medical professional who stands to gain personally from abusing their position and endangering the public by illegally prescribing opioids,” Reuben Coleman, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan, said in a statement. “We are grateful for our strong partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General throughout the entire investigation, and we remain in lockstep with our partners on pursuing these fraudulent medical schemes to save countless lives.”

cramirez@detroitnews.com

@CharlesERamirez