Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Tampa residents Bridget Luzod (42) and Victor Silva, MD (79) with one count of conspiring to distribute controlled substances, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, 19 counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances, and 19 counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances using a registration number issued to another person. If convicted on all counts, Luzod and Silva each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Luzod and Silva that the United States intends to forfeit any money or asset traceable to proceeds of the offenses.
According to the indictment, Luzod was the owner and primary operator of Thrive Medical Clinic, an alternative medicine clinic in South Tampa that she opened in September 2018. Although Luzod portrayed herself as a doctor or nurse to her patients, she had only a Florida basic x-ray machine operator license, which expired in 2018 and which Luzod did not renew until March 2024. She was not licensed to practice medicine in Florida and did not have a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration number to prescribe controlled substances.
Around March 2020, Luzod hired Dr. Silva to serve as Thrive’s medical director. Silva did not examine Thrive’s patients, diagnose them, prescribe treatments, or review their medical files. Instead, from 2020 to 2024, Luzod paid Silva a monthly stipend, and in return, Silva allowed Luzod to use Silva’s credentials and DEA registration number to treat her patients, friends, and family members with controlled substances – including Adderall, testosterone, hydrocodone, and phentermine. Luzod regularly forged Silva’s signature or used a rubber stamp to affix it to prescriptions.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Department of Health, the Tampa Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael M. Gordon.