DALLAS – Troutman Pepper Locke secured an outright dismissal of all charges in a complex, high-profile federal criminal case involving 14 defendants, including physicians, health care executives, and health care entities. The firm represented the lead defendant, Amir Mortazavi.
On Feb. 21, 2024, the government charged the defendants with two counts: (1) conspiracy to violate the Travel Act through alleged violations of the Texas Commercial Bribery Statute, and (2) conspiracy to commit money laundering. Both counts arose from alleged kickbacks purportedly paid to physician investors in exchange for prescription referrals to certain pharmacies.
Last year, the defendants moved to dismiss the original indictment as defective. In response, the government obtained a superseding indictment on Jan. 6, 2026. Defendants then moved to dismiss the superseding indictment on several grounds, including statute-of-limitations issues. Rather than respond to that motion, the government moved to dismiss the case “in the interests of justice.”
On Feb. 13, 2026, the court granted the government’s motion and dismissed the case in its entirety, bringing a complete and decisive end to the prosecution against all defendants, including Mortazavi.
The Troutman Pepper Locke team representing Mortazavi was led by Paul Coggins, Jennifer McCoy, Alex Lancey, and Whitney Taylor, with critical support from Katelyn Gillece, Holly Atchley, Veronica Long, and Carley Barnes.
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