Dallas, TX
Dallas-area doctor convicted of illegally prescribing highly addictive opioids
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A Dallas-area doctor was convicted Monday of illegally prescribing powerful and highly addictive opioids without a legitimate medical purpose.
Leovares A. Mendez, co-owner of Cumbre Medical Center in Garland, issued thousands of prescriptions for painkillers with no “apparent regard for patient harm,” according to federal authorities.
Following an eight-day trial, a jury found the 58-year-old physician guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and six counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. Mendez, who faces up to 140 years in federal prison, will be sentenced at a later date.
The center co-owner, Cesar Pena-Rodriguez, 56, pleaded guilty last month to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, just five days before trial was set to begin.
According to a civil complaint filed by authorities, the two doctors issued frequent prescriptions for a dangerous and often-abused cocktail of drugs called the “holy trinity,” a combination of an opioid, a short-acting benzodiazepine, and a muscle relaxer.
On 24 separate visits, the doctors wrote prescriptions for substances, including hydrocodone, alprazolam and tramadol, to undercover agents posing as patients in exchange for $250 payments, the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Northern District of Texas said in a news release.
During the trial, attorneys showed Mendez issued prescriptions after performing only minimal or perfunctory medical evaluations, some lasting only a minute. Some undercover agents requested the medications by name with no complaint of pain, according to the release.
On several visits, Mendez coached the undercover officers on what to say if ever contacted by law enforcement about the illegal prescriptions.
Overprescription of painkillers is one of the major drivers of the nation’s opioid crisis, which has cost Texas tens of thousands of lives and billions of dollars over the years. Texas is expected to receive about $1.6 billion over the next 18 years in settlements with drug-manufacturing companies, such as Johnson & Johnson and Allergan, and prescription distributors, such as CVS, Walgreens and Walmart. About $31 million in settlement funds has been allocated to Dallas County.
In a previous statement about the doctors, the former U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox said the office would “fight against doctors who are handing out prescriptions like candy.”
Neither physician could not be reached for comment Monday, and Cumbre Medical Center did not respond to a request for comment.
According to its website, the center treats patients for numerous issues, including thyroid problems, diabetes and high cholesterol and also offers laser hair removal, varicose vein treatments and 4D rejuvenation, which is a nonsurgical facelift.
DALLAS – Slow-moving thunderstorms brought localized flash flooding to parts of North Texas on Tuesday evening, blocking highways near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and dropping several inches of rain in portions of Tarrant and Parker counties.
Flash Flood Warnings
Local perspective:
Flash flood warnings are in effect for Hopkins, Hunt, Rains and Van Zandt counties until 7:45 p.m.
Flooding was reported along Texas 183 near Valley View Lane south of DFW Airport, where stranded vehicles and water-covered roadways created hazardous travel conditions.
A flash flood warning remained in effect near the airport, although rainfall rates had begun to diminish as the storm weakened.
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
The National Weather Service also issued a severe thunderstorm warning for northern Hood County, citing the potential for gusty winds and small hail. Forecasters reported hail ranging from pea-sized to marble-sized in parts of Hood, Parker and Denton counties.
Forecasters attributed the weakening storms in Denton County to an outflow boundary, a meteorological feature that can disrupt thunderstorm development.
The warning area was reduced as the storm weakened near sunset.
LIVE RADAR
What they’re saying:
FOX 4’s Kylie Capps said the storms moved unusually slowly from east to west, allowing heavy rain to accumulate over the same areas for several hours.
Rainfall estimates showed some locations in eastern Parker County and western Tarrant County received nearly 5 inches of rain during a six-hour period, while areas near DFW Airport recorded more than 2 inches.
Elsewhere in North Texas, northern Rains County received nearly 5 inches of rain.
7-Day Forecast
What’s next:
Forecasters expect a quieter overnight period, with only isolated showers lingering into the evening. Additional thunderstorms are possible Wednesday afternoon, though coverage and the threat of severe weather are expected to remain limited.
Temperatures are forecast to reach about 90 degrees Wednesday.
Rain chances are expected to continue through the remainder of the workweek and into the weekend as an upper-level low-pressure system sends multiple disturbances across North Texas.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by FOX 4’s Weather Team
Monday was a wild day for the NFL with two blockbuster trades. First was Myles Garrett, who both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles were rumored to have interest in.
Cowboys fans never bought into these rumors, knowing that Jerry Jones was unlikely to make such an investment. The Eagles, however, have been known to get aggressive. Thankfully for Dallas fans, they didn’t make the move as the Cleveland Browns sent Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Verse and a package of picks.
Not long after that trade was finalized, the Eagles did wind up making a trade. After months of speculation surrounding A.J. Brown and the New England Patriots, the two sides made it official as Brown was reunited with Mike Vrabel in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder.
Dallas Cowboys could take the NFC East crown in 2026
The writing has been on the wall all offseason regarding Brown, who has been unhappy with the Eagles for a while. His departure seemed confirmed when they traded up with Dallas in the 2026 NFL draft for USC receiver Makai Lemon.
While Lemon has the tools to be a difference-maker, he won’t be able to perform at the same level as Brown during his rookie season. The Eagles do still have DeVonta Smith at receiver as well as running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts.
That said, there’s no denying that they’re weaker this season than they were with Brown. Just as important, however, is the fact that general manager Howie Roseman didn’t pull off a shocking move for Garrett, which would have made them the overwhelming favorites in the division.
Cowboys chances hinge on defensive changes
Another reason the Cowboys are confident they can hang with Philadelphia this season is the presence of Christian Parker, who they hired as their defensive coordinator after he spent the past two seasons as the passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach with the Eagles.
Parker brings in a new scheme and plenty of confidence, but more importantly, he has several new weapons at his disposal. Dallas traded for veterans Rashan Gary and Dee Winters, signed Jalen Thompson and Cobie Durant, and selected Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence in the draft.
Those are just some of the moves they made on defense, and they’re banking on that to be enough to help propel them past the team that has won the division the past two seasons.
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FOX 4’s Clarice Tinsley celebrates the following members of the Class of 2026: Zavion Berry, Demi Glenn, Peyton Jankowski, Brynnah Stone, Bailee Swilling and Caroline Woahloe.
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