Doc prescribed more than 1M illegal pills: feds
A crooked Manhattan doctor doled out more than 1 million illegal Oxycodone pills in just three years from a Midtown clinic that typically operated three hours a day and accepted cash only, prosecutors charged Thursday.
Howard Adelglass, 65, wrote thousands of prescriptions for large quantities of opioids to people he knew had no need for the pills or were dealing the drugs on the streets, according to an indictment filed in Manhattan Federal Court.
The dirty doc relied on “gatekeeper” patients who referred other opioid addicts, prosecutors said.
Marcello Sansone, who is also charged in the case, began as one of the gatekeepers and was promoted to manager of the shady clinic, according to court papers.
“As alleged, Howard Adelglass betrayed his profession by writing thousands of medically unnecessary opioid prescriptions for more than a million oxycodone pills in less than three years. Marcello Sansone allegedly got promoted from trusted gatekeeper patient to office manager, helping Adelglass run his grotesquely lucrative pill mill. Now both are in custody and facing federal felony charges,” Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said.
Adelglass’s pain management clinic typically operated from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., with cash payments for “appointments” at the clinic ranging between $250 and $450, prosecutors said.
Adelglass rarely examined patients and allegedly prescribed pills even after they had failed drug tests at the clinic.
Sansone, 35, controlled Adelglass’s patient schedule and played a critical role allowing addicts continued access to the drug-pushing doctor, prosecutors said.
“The alleged behavior of Adlelglass, a licensed physician, who held a position of trust in our society, causes lasting harm to our communities. To intentionally peddle these substances into our communities, especially to those who have struggled to overcome the addiction of powerful painkillers, is an offense against all of society,” FBI Assistant Director William Sweeney Jr. said.