Former Physician Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unlawfully Prescribing Narcotics

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — James Oscar Williams, 60, has been sentenced to federal prison for unlawfully prescribing pills while practicing as a family doctor in Columbia.  Evidence presented to the court showed that between January 2015 and November 2019, Williams unlawfully prescribed David and Jennifer Mozingo well over 100,000 pills of various controlled substances, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, dextroamphetamine, and alprazolam. 

Williams pleaded guilty to unlawfully distributing oxycodone and alprazolam while practicing as a medical doctor, and his medical license was revoked.  Senior United States District Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. sentenced him to 60 months in federal prison, with a 3-year term of court-ordered supervision to follow. 

Both David and Jennifer Mozingo pleaded guilty to drug and firearm offenses and admitted to selling most of the pills they were prescribed by Williams.  They were previously sentenced to 111 and 33 months in prison, respectively. There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Inspection Service, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and Columbia Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike O’Mara prosecuted the case.

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