Police Crackdown on New York Doctors Distributing Opioids

On October 11, in pursuit of the current administration’s war on opioids, five New York doctors in Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and Westchester County were arrested and charged with running illegal prescription drug mills that led to the distribution of more than 8.5 million oxycodone pills being dispersed throughout the state. According to Manhattan federal prosecutors, these specific distributions resulted in a number of overdoses and deaths.

The Doctors & Charges

Those charged and accusations include the following:

• Dante Cubangbang stands accused of distributing 4.6 million oxycodone pills within the past six years. Several of his associates—including his nurse, office manager, “crew chief,” and street dealer, have also been charged with distributing more than six million pills to total approximately $5 million, which was laundered and divided. This comes after Cubangbang was charged in March of this year with five counts of violating probation after the state’s Office of Professional Medical Conduct placed him on probation three years ago for neglecting patients with respect to opiate treatment. Charges include one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (20 year maximum sentence); one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud (10 year maximum sentence); and conspiracy to commit money laundering (20 years maximum sentence);
• Carl Anderson allegedly distributed almost one million oxycodone pills from his home to patients who displayed visible signs of drug addiction, charging hundreds of dollars for each prescription. Charges include one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (20 year maximum sentence);
• Anthony Pietropinto is a psychiatrist who allegedly prescribed thousands of pills, which led to at least one overdose death. Charges include one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (20 year maximum sentence); two counts of distribution of controlled substances (20 years maximum each);
• Nadem Sayegh allegedly prescribed more than 50,000 oxycodone pills and, in return, received more than $100,000 in cash payments, as well as vacation trips, cruises, and luxury gifts. Charges include one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (max 20 year sentence); one count of distribution of controlled substances (max 20 year sentence); one count of healthcare fraud (max 10 year sentence); making false statements (max five year sentence); and aggravated identity theft (two year mandatory minimum); and
• Nkanga Nkanga is charged with distributing more than 500,000 oxycodone pills and thousands of other controlled substances, including alprazolam and buprenorphine. Nkanga was charged in an Indictment with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (max 20 year sentence) and four counts of distribution of controlled substances (max 20 year sentence each).

New York Drug Distribution Defense Attorneys

Drug distribution charges in New York are serious offenses that go well beyond losing your medical license and into being charged with a felony, serving up to 20 years in prison. If you have been charged with such an offense, contact our New York City drug distribution defense attorneys at the office of Phillip J. Murphy today to ensure that you remain protected throughout the process.

Resources:

abc7ny.com/5-doctors-among-10-arrested-in-nyc-prescription-drug-bust/4461710/

www.aol.com/article/news/2018/10/11/feds-charge-5-new-york-doctors-with-prescribing-85-million-opioid-pills/23558285/