N.J. doc, ‘El Chapo of Opioids,’ hit with drug charges

He callously called himself the “El Chapo of Opioids” for the prolific prescriptions he’d write for addictive painkillers.

And now New Jersey doctor Robert Delagente, 45, may face jail time just like the infamous druglord.

Delagente was charged Monday with distributing opioids without a legitimate medical reason and falsifying medical records to cover it up, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced. His arraignment was expected in Newark Federal Court.

According to authorities, Delagente, at his practice at North Jersey Family Medicine in Oakland, N.J., in 2014, allegedly bragged he prescribed so many addictive painkillers that he was the “Candy Man” and the “El Chapo of Opoiods.”

His specialty, according to prosecutors, was a dangerous drug cocktail known as the “holy trinity” — one that mixed opiods like oxycodone, benzodiazepines and muscle relaxers.

And he allegedly wrote the scripts even if he knew the patient was an addict, authorities charged.

In one chilling exchange, according to authorities, a patient begged Delagente for painkillers because “if I go four days without” them, “I am in huge trouble.” Delagente allegedly complied, telling the patient: “I’m literally sticking my neck out and can lose my medical license or [be] arrested for what I just did.”

He also let his hapless patients decide how much of the drugs he prescribed, and didn’t monitor those taking the highly addictive drugs for signs that they were hooked, prosecutors charged.

Delagente faces a maximum penalty of 20 years and a $1 million fine on the distribution of controlled dangerous substances charge, and a max 20 years and a $250,000 fine on the obstruction charge.