Pill Mill Doctor Sentenced To 113 years In Prison

(News/Talk 1480 WHBC) – A doctor who ran a pill mill out of his Jackson Township office and prescribed opiates without a medical purpose has been sentenced to 113 years in prison.

41-year-old Frank Lazzerini learned his sentence on Friday afternoon, about a month after being convicted of 187 of the 264 counts against him.

Most notably, he was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for his role in the death of Jamie Hayhurst, aggravated trafficking in drugs, medicaid fraud and grand theft, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity for using his medical office to run a criminal enterprise.

He would have to serve 56 years before he’s eligible for parole.

Stark County Prosecuting Attorney John D. Ferrero says he’s pleased that the court assured that Lazzerini will never again be able to prey on people again, saying the doctor was nothing more than a drug dealer in a white coat.

He says the opioid crisis that Lazzerini contributed to continues, and a lot of work still has to be done to stem the tide.

Ferrero thanked all the law enforcement agencies and prosecutors that worked the case, and also thanked the citizens of Stark County who served as jurors during the “unique trial”.