SACRAMENTO – On May 29, 2018, Chiropractor James Joseph Martin of West Sacramento was sentenced to one year in jail and five years of probation. In February, he pleaded no contest to three felony counts of practicing medicine without a license, four felony counts of grand theft, and two misdemeanor counts of using the titles “Dr.” and “physician.” In addition, Martin was ordered by a Sacramento County Superior Court Judge not to portray himself as someone who practices functional or pastoral medicine. He was also ordered to surrender his chiropractic license.
“State investigators the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Division of Investigation’s Health Quality Investigation Unit – Sacramento Field Office uncovered these crimes after receiving a consumer complaint,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona. “These investigators work year-round to protect us from fraudulent medical personnel, among other things. The spotlight isn’t often on the incredible investigative and law enforcement work they perform each day, but we owe them kudos for their public safety and consumer protection work. No one wants to put their health or trust into a fraud.”
Martin regularly appeared on a local television program, Sac & Co. His infomercials were designed to look like an interview. Martin, a licensed chiropractor, portrayed himself as a functional neurologist who practiced metabolic or pastoral medicine, specializing in treating conditions of the thyroid, neuropathy and other health conditions. Many of Martin’s patients thought he was a medical doctor. Some patients paid thousands of dollars for his treatment, which primarily consisted of Martin prescribing over the counter supplements and then selling them at a significant mark up.
Martin was also ordered to pay $67,934 in restitution to his victims.
