Doctor One of 10 Charged on Federal Opioid Trafficking Charges

            SANTA ANA, California – Law enforcement authorities this morning arrested four defendants charged in two federal grand jury indictments alleging a narcotics trafficking ring that sold illegal opioid prescriptions for cash through a series of sham medical clinics.

            Those charged in the indictments include Dr. John Michael Korzelius, 68, a.k.a. “Dr. K,” of Camarillo, who worked at a Santa Ana pain management clinic where he allegedly wrote medically unnecessary prescriptions to “patients” who paid cash. Over the course of two years, Korzelius and other medical professionals working under his guidance, prescribed approximately 439,090 pills of 30mg oxycodone – the highest dose of short-acting oxycodone available, and the dose most popular for the drug-abusing population, according to court documents.

            The charges in this matter are the result of an investigation by agents with the DEA and IRS Criminal Investigation into ChiroMed, which operated a group of chiropractic, medical and wellness clinics in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties. Korzelius, along with other medical professionals, including physician’s assistants, allegedly met with fraudulent patients and provided them with unnecessary prescriptions for drugs, including oxycodone.

The two grand jury indictments unsealed today charge 10 defendants with a variety of narcotics-related offenses, including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute oxycodone, distribution of fentanyl, and money laundering.

Along with Korzelius, the indictments charge:

·         Justin Douglas Cozart, 42, of Woodland Hills, who operated and supervised the ChiroMed medical clinics;

·         Damoon Joe Navarchi, 33, of Woodland Hills, who assisted Cozart in operating the clinics;

·         Xavier Muduki Mabale, 42, of Anaheim, who is accused of recruiting sham patients to obtain fraudulent oxycodone prescriptions from the medical clinics;

·         Mayra Barrios, 37, of Yorba Linda, who allegedly oversaw the day-to-day management of the medical clinics, including the issuance of fraudulent oxycodone prescriptions to sham patients;

·         Harrison Maruje Mureithi, 42, of Norco, who allegedly coordinated the purchase, collection, packaging, and shipment of oxycodone to buyers on the East Coast;

·         Duncan Muthoni Wanjohi, 23, of Anaheim, who allegedly assisted Mureithi in the buying and shipping of narcotics;

·         Pierre Delva, Jr., 33, a.k.a. “Big Head,” of Medford, Massachusetts, who allegedly provided financing to Mureithi to purchase bulk quantities of oxycodone; and

·         Louise W. Mureithi, 69, of Anaheim, Harrison Mureithi’s mother, who allegedly received packages of cash sent to her son for oxycodone;

·         Majid Nojavan, 42, of Laguna Niguel, charged in a spinoff case from the primary investigation, who allegedly advertised oxycodone for sale onCraigslist, sold fentanyl to an undercover police officer, and escorted the undercover police office to an Inglewood medical clinic to obtain a fraudulent oxycodone prescription.

Harrison Mureithi, Mabale, Louise Mureithi, and Nojavan were arrested by law enforcement this morning, and they are expected to make their initial court appearances this afternoon in United States District Court in Santa Ana. Korzelius, Cozart, Navarchi, and Barrios are being summonsed into court and are expected to make their initial appearances in United States District Court next week. Delva and Wanjohi are fugitives.

            As a result of a two-year investigation into the fraudulent medical clinics, DEA agents seized 20,737 oxycodone pills, and $177,610 in cash. Law enforcement intercepted a mailed parcel contained a teddy bear stuffed with two bags of oxycodone pills.

            An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

            If convicted of the charges, the defendants each would face a statutory maximum sentences of at least 20 years in federal prison. 

The investigation into the sham medical clinics was handled by the Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS Criminal Investigation. The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the Torrance Police Department provided substantial assistance. The investigation of Majid Nojavan was handled by Homeland Security Investigations and the Costa Mesa Police Department.

            These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Scott D. Tenley and Andrew M. Beshai of the Santa Ana Branch Office.


Tompkins Wake Expands With Addition of Mark Lowndes’ Firm

Lowndes tompkinswake lawfuel
Kerry Dewe, Jon Calder, Mark Lowndes

In a surprise move, well known corporate lawyer and name partner at his own firm, Mark Lowndes, is to merge his practice with Tompkins Wake in Auckland.

Lowndes team is set to join Tompkins Wake Tompkins on 1 September.


Lowndes founder Mark Lowndes, Director Kerri Dewe, and Associate Reuben Payne will join Tompkins Wake’s Auckland office in a move announced today.

Lowndes has been talking to a number of law firms recently about a possible merger. An entrepreneurial lawyer who founded Lowndes Jordan in 1986 after a spell at Simpson Grierson and as in-house counsel at BP Oil, he developed what is probably the country’s first boutique law practice.

The firm became Lowndes in 1997 with the intention of providing high level client service for major clients but within a nimble, small firm environment. He was also recently the Chair of Multilaw, a global association of over 10,000 lawyers practising in 100 countries.

Tompkins Wake has shown rapid growth in recent years as it has expanded to four offices from its Hamilton base. This March the firm appointed five new lawyers and boasted of 60 per cent growth over the past four years. The firm now has 125 staff across its offices.

The move to incorporate the Lowndes team and in particular Mark Lowndes will further boost the firm’s corporate presence in the Auckland market, providing a solid foothold into corporate work in the commercial centre.

Alongside his corporate advisory work, Mark Lowndes has enjoyed a strong reputation and holds various company directorships and trusteeships in NZ and internationally. He is a Certified Member of the Institute of Directors and has served as a mentor for the Institute of Directors’ training programmes.

“We had been talking to a number of law firms, and once we engaged with Tompkins Wake we were quickly attracted by their energy and enthusiasm, their clear business strategy, and the depth of the firm’s talent across its offices,” Lowndes said in a statement.


“We have been impressed by our dealing with Tompkins Wake. We’ve found them to be nimble and commercial to deal with. They have a great people-orientated culture and are adept at identifying and valuing the strengths that different individuals bring.”

Tompkins Wake Chief Executive Jon Calder (right) said further strengthening the firm’s Auckland office and national presence has been a key focus over the past four years.


“We’re excited about this opportunity to merge this practice into Tompkins Wake and we welcome Mark, Kerri, and Reuben with their specialist skills to continue our growth, particularly in the Auckland market.

“Lowndes have built a reputation around their unique ability to leverage their technical expertise with innovative commercial thinking and outstanding service; we think that’s a brilliant fit with
Tompkins Wake and our firm’s values.”


Mark Lowndes advises New Zealand and international companies – listed and privately owned –on a range of matters such as mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, private equity, venture capital, corporate recovery, and international investment.

He is recommended as a leading corporate/commercial lawyer by the 2020 edition of the principal international legal industry directories including Chambers Asia Pacific, Asialaw Profiles, Legal 500 and Best Lawyers in New Zealand.

“After 23 years as Managing Director, I’m looking forward to being supported to focus solely on looking after my clients.”


Reuben Payne, an Associate at Lowndes, is a commercial lawyer who has previously spent nine years in international firms in Auckland,
Melbourne, Singapore and London.

The firm is winding down its practice to coincide with the merger on 1 September. Until that time, Lowndes continues to serve its clients from its Shortland Street offices.

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