Podiatrist arrested for fraudulently selling prescriptions (New York)
A Long Island podiatrist was arrested and charged with writing and filling fraudulent prescriptions for painkillers and other drugs for personal use and resale for profit, Nassau County prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said, Dr. William Levine, 42, was carrying a loaded .380-caliber handgun when he was arrested in a Port Washington school parking lot where he was about to exchange illicit prescription drugs with another man.
Disticty Attorney Kathleen Rice said "Dr. Levine has violated the community's trust by abusing his position as a doctor,". "His actions are no different from a drug dealer on the street corner looking to poison our children, feed addictions, and ruin lives."
William Levine, DPM obtained large quantities of oxycodone, hydrocodone, Xanax, Klonopin Vicodin, and by writing out prescription slips in the names of non patients and his family members, authorities said. Dr. Levine then filled the prescriptions at nine pharmacies in Nassau County, Queens and Brooklyn, Rice's office said.
Rice's statemetn said "He would then either use the pills himself, or sell them,"
"Family members and non patients told investigators that they were unaware of prescriptions written in their names and that they had never received the medication."
Dr. Levine, practices podiatry in Brooklyn. Prosecutors said that Levine had gone to the Port Washington lot to provide the other man with five Klonopin pills in trade for 100 pills each of methadone and hydrocodone. Authorities said Dr. Levine's handgun was found in a search by Drug Enforcement Agency investigators who arrested both men.
Newsday- February 26, 2009
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