Two Tampa residents face federal charges for allegedly distributing drugs such as Adderall and hydrocodone under the guise of an alternative medicine clinic. The indictment accuses 42-year-old Bridget Luzod of running Thrive Medical Clinic in South Tampa since September 2018, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Although Luzod allegedly posed as a doctor or nurse, officials revealed she only held a basic x-ray machine operator license, which had expired earlier that year. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, “She was not licensed to practice medicine in Florida and did not have a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration number to prescribe controlled substances.”
In March 2020, Luzod reportedly hired 79-year-old Victor Silva, M.D., to act as the clinic’s medical director, though authorities claim Silva did not examine or diagnose patients. Instead, Luzod allegedly paid Silva to use his DEA registration number and credentials to prescribe drugs like Adderall, testosterone, hydrocodone, and phentermine to her friends and family.
Authorities say that from 2020 to 2024, Luzod regularly forged Silva’s signature or used a rubber stamp to approve prescriptions.
The federal investigation culminated in a grand jury indictment, with Luzod and Silva facing 40 criminal charges each, including:
- One count of conspiring to distribute controlled substances
- One count of maintaining a drug-involved premises
- 19 counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances
- 19 counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances using a registration number issued to another person
If convicted on all counts, Luzod and Silva could face up to 20 years in federal prison each. Additionally, the indictment indicates the United States intends to seize any assets or money traceable to the alleged offences.
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