Federal and State officials said, Twenty-five people, including doctors, were charged with involvement in a massive scheme that flooded New York City’s black market with as much as $500 million in painkillers.
Official said that, the operation was based at a clinic operating under the name Astramed in the city’s Bronx borough. The clinic sold phony prescriptions to drug dealers, who bought 5.5 million oxycodone pills at pharmacies around the city and as far away as Florida.
According to the Manhattan (U.S Attorney Preet Bharara), this is poison by prescription, and the volume and money allegedly involved would make hardened illegal drug traffickers envious.
According to the officials, Astramed’s owner, Dr. Kevin Lowe, collected nearly $12 million in exchange for fake doctor’s visits made by phony patients sent in by drug dealers for three years between January 2011 and January 2014.
According to the Authorities, One of the clinic’s doctors, Robert Terdiman, was indicted separately in New York State court for conspiracy and criminal narcotic sales, after he wrote eight oxycodone prescriptions for undercover officers during the investigation.
Authorities said that, He conducted no physical examination, and would prescribe oxycodone no matter what response the officers gave to his cursory questions.
According to the New York City Office (Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan), on weekday mornings, as many as 100 people would crowd the doors of Astramed’s main location, clamoring to see doctors who would prescribe large quantities of the powerful narcotic painkiller in exchange for cash.
U.S: 25 People Including Doctors Charged In $500 Million New York Painkiller Scheme
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