Clifton Park doctor pleads guilty to kickback scheme
Says he prescribed patients drugs to be shared with him
A local doctor pleaded guilty to unlawful drug distribution and identify theft Thursday in connection with a kickback scheme authorities say he crafted with patients to obtain drugs for himself.
According to the U.S. attorney’s office, 52-yearold Scott Mcmahon of Queensbury acknowledged as part of his guilty plea that from at least December 2018 through August 2019 he provided certain patients with prescriptions for methylphenidate — the generic version of Ritalin and a Schedule II controlled substance — with the intent of having them kick back a portion of each prescription to him for personal use.
As part of the scheme, Mcmahon admitted to obtaining the names and birth dates of patients’ children and using that
Albany man pleads guilty to gun charge
ALBANY — An Albany man pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a weapon Thursday in connection with the Feb. 8 shooting death of 19-yearold Irving Lamboy.
Darryl Smith, 34, faces up to nine years in state prison when sentenced on Nov. 16.
The Albany County District Attorney’s Office claims that on Feb. 8 at 9:50 p.m., Smith fired a gun, which he illegally possessed, at a home on Clinton Avenue in the city of Albany, striking and killing Lamboy, who was inside.
Lamboy was the city’s first fatal shooting victim of 2020, which has seen 14 homicides.
On-duty police officers allegedly witnessed Smith standing in the street firing at the residence. When he saw the officers, police say he dropped the gun and surrendered. Police charged Smith with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and first-degree reckless endangerment.
According to the district attorney’s office, further investigation revealed that an argument had ensued “between parties” and the first shots were fired from inside the home toward parties on the street. One information to issue methylphenidate prescriptions in their names. The parents would then pick up the prescriptions from pharmacies in New York and Vermont and split them with Mcmahon.
At the time of the crimes, Mcmahon had a medical practice in Clifton Park. He previously maintained offices in Albany and other locations in the Capital Region. He specialized in psychiatry and addiction treatment.
The U.S. attorney’s office also said Mcmahon improperly prescribed ketamine intranasal spray to a person who had no legitimate medical need for it. Federal authorities say a sampling of Mcmahon’s records showed he failed to record dosage amounts for the ketamine, along with patient names and who was administering the drug. He also failed to conduct an initial inventory when he began dispensing ketamine, they said.
On Thursday, Mcmahon pleaded guilty to distributing controlled substances outside the course of of the residents in the home was Lamboy, who had been shot in the back. He was treated at the scene by medical personnel and brought to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
An obituary for Lamboy described the teen as a thoughtful, caring man with a bright future ahead of him.
“His faith kept him grounded and provided him with the inspiration to do good and be excellent in all he did,” the obituary states. “Irving was a protector and provider to his family. There was no sacrifice too great, no challenge to difficult when it came to providing for his family. His trust in God and love for family was beyond reproach.”
In addition to a prison term, Smith also faces five years of post-release supervision.
Man sentenced for child porn charges
ALBANY — A Menands man was sentenced to eight years in prison this week for distributing, receiving and possessing child pornography.
Kenneth J. Monahan, 45, had previously pleaded guilty to using peer-topeer software to distribute images of child pornography in February and April of 2018, according to the professional practice and for no legitimate medical purpose, and to misusing personal information in the course of fraudulently obtaining controlled substances from pharmacies.
He agreed to forfeit his New York medical license and pay $43,225 to settle civil penalty claims — an amount authorities say was based on his inability to pay a higher amount.
Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2021, before Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas Mcavoy. On the aggravated identity theft conviction, Mcmahon must serve two years in prison. On the drug conviction, he faces up to an additional 20 years and will also be ordered to serve at least three years of post-imprisonment supervised release.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, State Police and the state Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement investigated the case.
■
■
U.S. attorney’s office.
He also admitted to downloading child pornography from 2017 through April 2018 and to possessing over 1,300 images of child pornography in May 2018.
In addition to the prison sentence, Senior U.S. Judge Thomas Mcavoy imposed a 20-year term of supervised release, which will start after Monahan is released from prison, ordered a $400 special assessment, and ordered him to pay $19,500 in restitution that will be divided among certain child victims who were depicted in the images and videos Monahan viewed.
He will also have to register as a sex offender.
— Bethany Bump
Student charged with shooting threat
RAVENA — A Ravenacoeymans-selkirk student has been charged with a felony after police say he threatened to shoot up two local schools.
The student, described only as a 17-year-old male, was charged with making a terroristic threat, which is a felony, according to the Albany County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office began an investigation Wednesday after one of its school resource officers
■ Would you like to see your photo in the Times Union, timesunion.com and our Instagram: @ albanytimesunion?
■ Send JPEGS of at least 2 MB to yourbestshot@timesunion.com. Please add names, hometowns and an explanation of what’s pictured.
Washington Farmers Market to accept SNAP and FMNP
ALBANY — Customers of the Washington Park Farmers Market can use SNAP benefits and Farmers Market Nutrition Program checks to purchase eligible products from vendors including healthy, fresh, affordable produce.
The Lark Street BID will provide a tent, table, chairs and sanitizer for the new SNAP-FMNP checkout station.
The farmers market is held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays in Washington Park along the pedestrian footpath, Knox Mall Road.
For more information, call 949-9738785 or 518-248-9770.
Tours of Empire State Plaza architecture planned
ALBANY — An exterior Capitol architecture tour of the Empire State Plaza is being offered 10 to 10:45 a.m. Fridays through Oct. 2.
Sitting atop Albany’s State Street hill, the State Capitol has served as the seat of government for the state since the 1880s. The building is a marvel of late 19thcentury architectural grandeur, built by hand of solid masonry over a period of 32 years.
The tour will focus on the building’s unique architecture and craftsmanship of the stonemasons who carved designs throughout the structure’s façade. It will also highlight the State Education Building, Albany City Hall and the site of the 1809 Capitol, which was replaced by the existing statehouse.
Tours are also offered of the Plaza Art Collection and of the Plaza itself.
Participants must make reservations and follow COVID-19 protocols.
To make reservations, call 518-4742418.
Turning point battle discussion
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Elected officials and candidates for state Legislature will discuss the Turning Point Battle of the Revolutionary War at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Saratoga National Historical Park.
They will be in front of the monument at Neilson Farm, stop 2 on the driving tour.
The event is being organized by Million Reasons to Vote, a group that aims to inform citizens and promote voter turnout.
Knickerbocker chicken barbecue
SCHAGHTICOKE
— The Knickerbocker Mansion’s autumn chicken barbecue takeout dinner will take place 4:30 to 6 p.m. Sept. 26 at the historic mansion, 132 Knickerbocker Road.
There will be no seating this year.
Reservations must be made by Saturday. Call 518-588-7130 and leave your name and telephone number.
Cost is $15 a dinner. Proceeds will benefit the Knickerbocker Historical Society, which works to educate the public about the local historical, cultural and literary impact of the Knickerbocker family.
Craft event planned at Wilton preserve
GANSEVOORT — Fall craft sessions will be offered 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesdays at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, 80 Scout Road, under the pavilion at Camp Saratoga.
The schedule is: Tuesday, autumn wreaths; Sept. 29, leaf mobiles; Oct. 6, leaf creature lanterns; and Oct. 13, pine cone critters.
The classes are free. Face masks must be worn throughout the program. Registration is required. Call the park office, 518450-0321; email: info@ wiltonpreserve.org or go to http://www.wiltonpreserve.org.
St. Ann Maronite to host falafel dinner
WATERVLIET — A takeout falafel dinner will be offered 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 25 at St. Ann Maronite Catholic Church, 1919 Third Ave.
Cost is $10 a dinner. Proceeds will benefit the church.
Order dinners in advance by calling 518-4217330.
Wool, arts festival to be held Sept. 26-27
GREENWICH — The annual Adirondack Wool and Arts Festival will be held Sept. 26-27 at the Washington County Fairgrounds,
392 Old Schuylerville Road.
Hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 27.
Visitors can get their holiday shopping done early and support local artisans, farmers and craft food and beverage vendors. There will be fiber artisans, silversmiths, leatherworks, jewelry and woodcrafts.
Attendees can bring gently used fiber equipment and supplies to be sold at the silent auction.
Vendors will be spaced out. Buildings will have one-way access. Hand sanitizer and handwashing stations will be located throughout the grounds.
Admission will be $5, children 13 and younger free.
For more information, go to https://www.adkwoolandarts.com.
Brain tumor research event set for Sept. 27
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Team Billy Ride and Walk for Research will take place Sept. 27 as a virtual event.
The bike and walk routes start and end at the farmers market in High Rock Park.
Three rides of 50, 25 and 10 miles will begin at 8:30 a.m., with a three-mile walk through the historic district starting at 9 a.m.
Proceeds go to the National Brain Tumor Society toward research grants for brain tumor research. Over $2,500,000 has been raised from such fundraiser events.
For more information, or to register, call Cherie Grey, 518-587-7211, email: cjgrey1@juno.com or go to
https://www.teambilly. org.
Clifton Park hosts paper shredding day
CLIFTON PARK — The town’s semi-annual personal paper shredding day will be 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 4 at the parking lot by Boscov’s and the Saratoga County DMV Office at Clifton Park Center.
This free service is for residents only and is held in conjunction with 3N Documents Destruction.
This is a drive-through service.
Attendees are asked to bring a donation of nonperishable items for local food pantries.
Shredding is limited to four huge bags or boxes of papers. Junk mail, binders, plastic carriers, folders and metal spiral books will not be accepted. Paper will be shredded on site and then recycled.
— Azra Haqqie