THE THREE MUHAMMADS

Related or not, the three Muhammads have been raking in the cash from their illicit prescription pill operations. And there’s nothing more embarrassing to law enforcement, than having a cop own some of those pill mills.

STATE CLOSES 4 LOCAL PAIN CLINICS
2 sites are owned by HPD officer

By Cindy Horswell

Houston Chronicle
February 25, 2011

The Texas Medical Board has taken emergency action to close four Harris County clinics that are under investigation as possible "pill mills," including two owned by a veteran Houston policeman, Danny Muhammad, who is also the target of a federal probe.

A third clinic that closed is owned by Durce Muhammad, a former administrator of an embattled charter school. The fourth is owned by Tamu Muhammad, a financial service industry worker. It is unclear if any of the three are related.

Dr. Akilil Graham obtained the state licenses to operate the four clinics under a state law that took effect in September. This law is designed to stop the proliferation of "pill mills" churning out dangerous prescription drugs through stricter regulations that among other things requires all pain management clinics be doctor-owned.

However, those licenses were temporarily suspended Feb. 18 when the board learned the Secretary of State incorporation records did not list Graham as the actual owner of these clinics, said Leigh Hopper, medical board spokeswoman. Instead records listed Danny, Durce and Tamu Muhammad as the owners.

Neither Graham nor the clinic owners could be reached for comment.

Graham, Danny and Durce Muhammad are also connected as directors of ResurrectionZone, which provides motivational training and self-development. The trio's photos and bios are among seven featured on the Houston firm's website, but messages left on their phones there went unanswered.

"We have no comment," said Victor Seals, a project manager for ResurrectionZone. "This has nothing to do with us."

Danny Muhammad, 40, who has served as an HPD officer since 1997, was suspended with pay in December after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Harris County District Attorney's office initiated an investigation. Neither agency has divulged details of the pending probe.

But records show Danny Muhammad formed the Oaks Medical Clinic at 444 S. Main in Highlands in 2006 and the Imed Clinic at 6806 Longpoint in Houston in 2007.

The Beaumont native, who worked as a probation officer for adults in Fort Bend County and juveniles in Harris County before joining the Houston police department, was working as a community liaison before his suspension.

At the same time, Durce Muhammad, 49, is listed on the Harris County tax rolls as owning the Preferred Medical Clinic at 1314 Federal Road in Houston since 2007.

For five years, he served as assistant principal and then assistant to the superintendant of the Alphonso Crutch charter school in Sharpstown, which came under fire from the Texas Education Agency in 2002. The school was criticized for questionable hiring practices, salaries and record keeping before closing a year ago.

Since then, Durce Muhammad founded and became the registered agent for AKH Educational Services, a consulting firm in Houston for such services as "dress for success" seminars. It's located at 1348 Federal Road near his clinic, records show.

Tamu Muhammad is listed as the owner of the fourth clinic, UMAT Clinic at 7632a Park Place in Houston. She incorporated it last June.

The owners of the four clinics were uncovered last month when the board began checking into questionable prescription-writing practices for addictive drugs at the clinics, authorities said.

Since stricter regulations were implemented in Texas, six clinics have been forced to close, and all were in the Houston area.

Besides the four closing Feb. 18, Dr. Jesus Caquias permanently surrendered his license to operate the Spring Wellness Center in Spring on Feb. 4 because it, too, was not doctor-owned.

Better Life Pain Clinic in Houston also has closed since its doctor, David Joseph Shin, was indicted Nov. 19 with engaging in organized crime.

One other law enforcement officer has also come under scrutiny for his connection to a pain management clinic. Lewis Martin Jr., a veteran Harris County sheriff's deputy who worked in the jail, and his wife were equal owners with chiropractor Michael Kabzinski in the Family Medi Clinic in The Woodlands. That clinic was sued in the wrongful death of a patient who overdosed.

A jury found the clinic was guilty of gross negligence and ordered Martin's wife to pay $745,000 in damages.