The Bergen County prosecutor recently announced that 13 people, including an Emerson doctor, were arrested for alleged drug offenses involving Oxycodone.

According to prosecutor John Molinelli, a four-month investigation revealed that the Ankle and Foot Health Care Institute doctor was earning money for writing illicit prescriptions for the drug.

Molinelli said officials received a tip in August about the purported operation.

Pharmacy records showed the doctor had written Oxycodone prescriptions for more than 100 people. The prescriptions were allegedly filled by a dozen men involved in the scheme.

The doctor typically prescribed 60 pills of 30 mg Oxycodone.

A 27-year-old man and 35-year-old man were arrested for allegedly conspiring with the doctor. In addition, police authorities arrested a 22-year old woman, 23-year-old man, 25-year-old man, two 26-year-old men, a 27-year-old man, a 33-year-old man, two 24-year-old men and a 43-year-old man.

The prosecutor said the men and woman are suspected to have used a list of birthdays and names to fill the prescriptions which were reportedly written by the doctor.


Molinelli said most of the prescriptions were filled by men from Emerson and that the prescriptions "did not seem to be consistent with a proper pain management plan for a podiatrist."

Assisting the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office with the investigation were the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General Division of Consumer Affairs.

Currently, the doctor is suspended from practicing, due to an October action by the Board of Medical Examiners. Further board action against the podiatrist might be taken later, Molinelli said.

Source: NorthJersey.com: "Emerson doctor, 12 others, charged with distribution of Oxycodone," Kimberly Redmond, Dec. 21, 2011