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Opioid Crisis

Business
Walgreens Knowingly Filled Millions Of Prescriptions Lacking Legit Medical Purpose, DOJ Says Walgreens Knowingly Filled Millions Of Prescriptions Lacking Legit Medical Purpose, DOJ Says
Walgreens Knowingly Filled Millions Of Prescriptions Lacking Legit Medical Purpose, DOJ Says The Justice Department has filed a nationwide lawsuit against Walgreens, alleging the pharmacy chain filled millions of prescriptions without legitimate medical purposes, particularly involving dangerous opioid combinations, over more than a decade. Filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the civil complaint contends Walgreens violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and False Claims Act (FCA) by dispensing prescriptions despite clear red flags and seeking federal reimbursements for these drugs. “This lawsuit seeks to hold Walgreens accountable for the many…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Westchester Man Sells Opioid Three Times Stronger Than Fentanyl, Feds Say Westchester Man Sells Opioid Three Times Stronger Than Fentanyl, Feds Say
Westchester Man Sells Opioid Three Times Stronger Than Fentanyl, Feds Say Two men, including one from Westchester County, face federal charges for allegedly selling a narcotic up to three times stronger than fentanyl, officials announced.  Yonkers resident Miguel de Jesus Reyes Medina, age 49, and Camden, NJ resident Erik Alberto Lopez Valdez, age 38, were arrested on Thursday, July 18 on drug distribution charges, the US Attorney's Office for Southern District of New York announced.  According to federal officials, in April 2024, Reyes Medina agreed to sell fentanyl to an undercover agent working with law enforcement, reportedly asking f…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Westchester Physician, NY Pharmacist Illegally Prescribed, Dispensed Opioids: Feds Westchester Physician, NY Pharmacist Illegally Prescribed, Dispensed Opioids: Feds
Westchester Physician, NY Pharmacist Illegally Prescribed, Dispensed Opioids: Feds A Westchester County physician and a pharmacy owner from Long Island both face federal charges in connection with their alleged illegal distribution of highly addictive opioids, officials announced.  Nassau County resident Feroze Nazirbage of Bellerose, age 50, and Larchmont resident Mordechai Bar, age 71, were both arrested on Wednesday, June 5 and charged with illegally diverting oxycodone and other controlled substances, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced.  According to federal officials, Nazirbage, who is associated wit…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Former NYPD Officer Admits Selling Heroin, Fentanyl In Westchester Former NYPD Officer Admits Selling Heroin, Fentanyl In Westchester
Former Nypd Officer Admits Selling Heroin, Fentanyl In Westchester A former New York City Police officer has admitted to selling packages containing heroin and fentanyl in Westchester, federal officials announced. Bronx resident Grace Rosa Baez, age 38, pleaded guilty to drug distribution charges on Tuesday, April 16, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced.  Earlier Report- Police Officer, Westchester Man Nabbed For Planning To Distribute Fentanyl, Heroin: Feds According to federal officials, Baez, who joined the NYPD in 2012, was placed on modified duty in 2020 after alleged misconduct and was soon subject…

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by Ben Crnic
Business
Rite Aid Plans To Close 400-Plus Stores, Report Says Rite Aid Plans To Close 400-Plus Stores, Report Says
Rite Aid Plans To Close 400-Plus Stores, Report Says Rite Aid will close 400 to 500 stores as part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, according to a new report. The drugstore chain is now negotiating with creditors to formulate a bankruptcy plan that would include liquidating a substantial portion of its more than 2,100 drugstores, The Wall Street Journal says. Rite Aid is facing over $3 billion in debt and more than a thousand federal lawsuits alleging it oversupplied opioids, the report said. Founded 61 years ago in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Rite Aid moved its headquarters to Philadelphia in 2022. Click here to read the complet…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Westchester Doctor Admits To Prescribing Over 100K Oxycodone Pills Knowing They'd Be Resold Westchester Doctor Admits To Prescribing Over 100K Oxycodone Pills Knowing They'd Be Resold
Westchester Doctor Admits To Prescribing Over 100K Oxycodone Pills Knowing They'd Be Resold A Westchester County doctor could spend decades in prison after admitting that he illegally prescribed opioid pills knowing they’d be resold on the street. Marc Laruelle, age 65, of Yonkers, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing Oxycodone, amphetamines, and Xanax in federal court in Manhattan Wednesday, Oct. 19. Prosecutors said Laruelle, a licensed psychiatrist, illegally prescribed more than 100,000 doses of Oxycodone “outside of the usual course of professional practice” between September 2016 and October 2021. Highly potent and addictive, the drug often commands a high price in …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
18 Arrested After Investigation Into Drug Trafficking In Hudson Valley 18 Arrested After Investigation Into Drug Trafficking In Hudson Valley
18 Arrested After Investigation Into Drug Trafficking In Hudson Valley Eighteen suspects are facing charges in the Hudson Valley following a long-term investigation into drug smuggling and sales in Orange County, authorities announced. Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler and Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden announced that they have arrested and charged 18 people who have been linked to drug possession and sales throughout the region. Several of the suspects have also been charged with smuggling drugs into the Orange County Jail and prostitution. On Monday, March 7, Hoovler announced that the 18 have been charged with crimes pertaining to the…

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by Zak Failla
News
Purdue Pharma Reaches $6B Settlement With US States Over Thousands Of Opioid-Related Lawsuits Purdue Pharma Reaches $6B Settlement With US States Over Thousands Of Opioid-Related Lawsuits
Purdue Pharma Reaches $6B Settlement With US States Over Thousands Of Opioid-Related Lawsuits OxyContin creators Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family have reached a $6 billion settlement over their roles in the ongoing opioid crisis plaguing the country. The announcement comes following an earlier deal made with Purdue, headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, that was ultimately appealed by eight states and the District of Columbia until the Sacklers kicked in more cash to get the deal done. Earlier story - NY, Other States Reach $4.5B Settlement With Purdue Pharma Over Its Role In Opioid Epidemic The $6 billion will be paid out over the course of 18 years, with larger payments fro…

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by Zak Failla
News
NY Jury Finds Pharmaceutical Company Liable In Opioids Case NY Jury Finds Pharmaceutical Company Liable In Opioids Case
NY Jury Finds Pharmaceutical Company Liable In Opioids Case Teva Pharmaceuticals, the last remaining defendant in a New York trial against opioid defendants, has been found liable for creating a public nuisance through its manufacture, sale, and distribution of opioids. The verdict from a Long Island Supreme Court jury came Thursday, Dec. 30, after six months of testimony in a trial brought by the State Attorney's General Office, along with Nassau and Suffolk counties. “This is a significant day for New York state. This is a significant day for this nation. But, more importantly, this is a significant day for every family and community torn apart by…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Hudson Valley Counties To Receive Up To $94 Million To Combat Opioid Crisis Hudson Valley Counties To Receive Up To $94 Million To Combat Opioid Crisis
Hudson Valley Counties To Receive Up To $94 Million To Combat Opioid Crisis Hudson Valley counties are set to receive up to $94 million to help combat the opioid crisis. New York Attorney General Letitia James said in an announcement on Tuesday, Oct. 5, that the funds come from settlements from a March 2019 lawsuit against the manufacturers and distributors responsible for the crisis. James shared a list of figures representing the minimum and maximum amounts each county could receive from settlements with Johnson & Johnson, McKesson, Cardinal Health, Amerisource Bergen, and Endo. Hudson Valley: $51,729,983.90 – $94,455,606.10 Dutchess County: $3,682,781.87 …

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by Nicole Valinote
Business
Stamford-Based Purdue Pharma Admits To Crimes, Facing Billions In Fines For Opioid Crisis Role Stamford-Based Purdue Pharma Admits To Crimes, Facing Billions In Fines For Opioid Crisis Role
Stamford-Based Purdue Pharma Admits To Crimes, Facing Billions In Fines For Opioid Crisis Role Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, has agreed to pay billions of dollars in fines and will plead guilty to federal criminal charges for its role in the nation’s opioid crisis. The Fairfield County-based Connecticut company agreed to plead guilty in federal court in New Jersey to a three-count indictment that includes one count of dual-object conspiracy to defraud the United States and to violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and two counts of conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute. As part of the agreement, Purdue Pharma, whose headquarters is in Stamford, will…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Two Found Dead In Northern Westchester Residence; Infant Hospitalized Two Found Dead In Northern Westchester Residence; Infant Hospitalized
Two Found Dead In Northern Westchester Residence; Infant Hospitalized A man and woman were found dead at a residence in Northern Westchester, and their infant hospitalized, state police said. New York State Police troopers found the man and woman in their 30s in a Post Office Road home in Lewisboro at approximately 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 11, police said. Their infant was also in the home at the time of the welfare check. Police said that the deaths are being investigated as a potential overdose, and there appears to be no foul play. Investigators are currently waiting on autopsy reports. The child was taken to Westchester Medical Center for evaluation late…

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by Zak Failla
News
Mount Kisco Doctor Found Guilty Of Accepting Kickbacks From Opioid Maker Mount Kisco Doctor Found Guilty Of Accepting Kickbacks From Opioid Maker
Mount Kisco Doctor Found Guilty Of Accepting Kickbacks From Opioid Maker A Manhattan anesthesiologist from Northern Westchester who distributed highly addictive painkillers was convicted of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks in a separate case. Mount Kisco resident Gordon Freedman, 59, was convicted by a federal jury in Manhattan federal court of conspiracy to violate anti-kickback laws, violating anti-kickback laws and honest services wire fraud after accepting more than $300,000 in bribes masked as speaker fees in exchange for writing certain prescriptions for Insys Therapeutics Inc. It was alleged that in 2014, Freedman wrote the fourth-h…

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by Zak Failla
News
Westchester Doctor Sentenced For Writing Prescriptions For 50K Oxycodone Pills Westchester Doctor Sentenced For Writing Prescriptions For 50K Oxycodone Pills
Westchester Doctor Sentenced For Writing Prescriptions For 50K Oxycodone Pills A doctor from Westchester will spend time behind bars for illegally distributing tens of thousands of oxycodone pills. Yonkers resident Nadem Sayegh, 65, a doctor with offices in Yonkers and the Bronx, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, followed by two years probation and a $100,000 fine. He will also pay $11,000 in restitution for not following medical guidelines when distributing the drug. Sayegh must report to prison at the end of January. He was one of 10 medical professionals charged in the oxycodone distribution ring. Each of the other co-conspirators are still awaiting trial. Acc…

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by Zak Failla
News
10-Month Investigation Leads To Takedown Of Major Drug Ring In Westchester, Connecticut, NYC 10-Month Investigation Leads To Takedown Of Major Drug Ring In Westchester, Connecticut, NYC
10-Month Investigation Leads To Takedown Of Major Drug Ring In Westchester, Connecticut, NYC A 10-month investigation into opioid sales in Westchester, Connecticut, Brooklyn and the Bronx, led to the takedown of a major drug ring that purchased and sold tens of thousands of prescription pills. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Thursday that two indictments have been unsealed in Bronx County Supreme Court charging 28 co-conspirators with conspiracy, criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a controlled substance, and other charges in a 181 count indictment. James said that the investigation - dubbed Operation Oxy-Concourse - led to…

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by Zak Failla
News
Twelve Indicted In Takedown Of Westchester/Bronx Drug Ring Twelve Indicted In Takedown Of Westchester/Bronx Drug Ring
Twelve Indicted In Takedown Of Westchester/Bronx Drug Ring Twelve men have been accused of running a major drug operation in Westchester and the Bronx. Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr., announced the takedown of the ring working out of Mount Vernon and the Bronx, which led to the arrests of 11 men on a 68-count indictment. Ten of the suspects were arrested and arraigned in Westchester County Court on Thursday, April 11 and face charges that include enterprise corruption, operating as a major trafficker, conspiracy, and criminal sale and possession of heroin and fentanyl. Willie “Unique” Rutherford was already in jail and V…

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by Zak Failla
News
NY Lawsuit Against Opioid Distributors Includes Billionaire Family Behind OxyContin NY Lawsuit Against Opioid Distributors Includes Billionaire Family Behind OxyContin
NY Lawsuit Against Opioid Distributors Includes Billionaire Family Behind OxyContin New York is taking on big pharmaceutical companies, announcing the “nation’s most comprehensive lawsuit against opioid distributors and manufacturers,” Attorney Letitia James said. James filed the lawsuit against the Sackler family, and other distributors, which are responsible for the widespread of OxyContin abuse, alleging that the drugmaker Purdue Pharma helped spark an opioid crisis that led to the deaths of thousands. The lawsuit, announced Thursday, March 28, alleges that through years of false and deceptive marketing, and by ignoring their duties to prevent the unlawful diversion of …

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Northern Westchester Estate Owner Michael Bloomberg Rules Out 2020 Presidential Run Northern Westchester Estate Owner Michael Bloomberg Rules Out 2020 Presidential Run
Northern Westchester Estate Owner Michael Bloomberg Rules Out 2020 Presidential Run Another prominent New York politician has taken his hat out of the ring for a potential presidential run in 2020. Billionaire Mike Bloomberg announced on Tuesday that he will not be challenging President Donald Trump for a seat in the Oval Office, citing the difficulty of winning the Democratic nomination in such a crowded field. His announcement comes a day after Chappaqua’s Hillary Clinton bowed out of the race. Bloomberg - the former New York City mayor who owns a Northern Westchester estate in North Salem - noting that he is three-for-three in elections, said he believes he could win e…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
14 Alleged Dealers In Custody After 10-Month Undercover Drug Operation In Westchester 14 Alleged Dealers In Custody After 10-Month Undercover Drug Operation In Westchester
14 Alleged Dealers In Custody After 10-Month Undercover Drug Operation In Westchester A total of 14 alleged drug dealers targeted by undercover officers in a 10-month operation are now in police custody, officials announced late Thursday afternoon. A joint investigation between local and county law enforcement dubbed Operation: Clean Slate targeted street-level drug dealers operating primarily in the third and fourth precincts in Yonkers. The undercover operation began 10 months ago based on intelligence that was gathered and complaints from area residents. During the investigation, Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Gardner said undercover officers made more than 100 purch…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Pivotal Murphy, Harckham State Senate Battle Gets Heated Pivotal Murphy, Harckham State Senate Battle Gets Heated
Pivotal Murphy, Harckham State Senate Battle Gets Heated The 40th Senate District, which includes parts of Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties is considered one of eight "battleground" elections that could tip the balance of political power in Albany. On Tuesday, Nov. 6 voters can choose between incumbent Republican Sen. Terrence Murphy and Democrat Peter Harckham. Murphy of Yorktown was elected to the state Senate in 2014, and is completing his second two-year term.  Harckham of South Salem, a former Westchester County legislator, defeated Robert Kesten in the Sept. 13 Democratic Party primary election. Kesten said he supports Harckh…

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by Jon Craig
News
Westchester Doctor, Wife Sentenced For Running $77M Black-Market Pill Mill Westchester Doctor, Wife Sentenced For Running $77M Black-Market Pill Mill
Westchester Doctor, Wife Sentenced For Running $77M Black-Market Pill Mill An elderly doctor and his wife, who called Westchester home are heading to prison after being busted running a black market pill mill that “pumped out” more than $77 million in painkillers onto the black market over the course of several years. Scarsdale residents Rogelio Lucas, 80, and his wife, Lydia Lucas, 82, who operated a medical practice on the Upper West Side, were found guilty of distributing approximately 3.2 million pills of Oxycodone, which flooded the streets of Manhattan. Rogelio Lucas received a term of between 1 year and four months to four years in prison on one count of co…

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by Zak Failla
News
Man Sentenced For Distributing Narcotics, Including In OD Case Man Sentenced For Distributing Narcotics, Including In OD Case
Man Sentenced For Distributing Narcotics, Including In OD Case A Rockland County drug dealer who was known to joke that his customers did the "fentanyl dance” before overdosing was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. “For years, Robert Diaz peddled heroin and other drugs in and around Rockland County, contributing to the opioid crisis plaguing our community today and causing at least one victim to overdose,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said. “Today’s sentence should serve as a message to those seeking to profit off of this tragic epidemic.” According to the indictment, Diaz, of Haverstra…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
More Than Half Of NYers Personally Touched By Opioid Abuse, Poll Finds More Than Half Of NYers Personally Touched By Opioid Abuse, Poll Finds
More Than Half Of NYers Personally Touched By Opioid Abuse, Poll Finds Nearly one of every four New Yorkers personally know of someone, a family member, friend or acquaintance that has died due to an opioid overdose, according to a new Siena College poll. After measuring those who have an immediate or extended family member -- or someone they know through work -- who has abused opioids, 54 percent have been touched by the epidemic involving painkillers, the poll found.  Eighty percent of state residents agree that our country is in the middle of an opioid crisis and 83 percent think the problem of opioid abuse has gotten worse over the past few years.  A vast…

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by Jon Craig
Business
CT-Based OxyContin Manufacturer Lays Off Half Of Its Sales Staff CT-Based OxyContin Manufacturer Lays Off Half Of Its Sales Staff
Ct-based OxyContin Manufacturer Lays Off Half Of Its Sales Staff Purdue Pharma, the Stamford drug manufacturer that created the highly addictive painkiller OxyContin has laid off half of its 400-member sales team and will no longer promote the prescription drug to doctors. The news, announced with a flurry full-page ads by the drug company in the country’s largest newspapers, according to this report in The Hartford Courant, is part of a corporate campaign by Purdue to preserve the drug’s brand and its own, both of which are being blamed in part for the country’s spiraling opioid crisis. Last week, Westchester County filed a lawsuit against more than 30 o…

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by Jon Craig
Politics
Schumer Calls For More Funding To Fight Opioid Crisis In Westchester Schumer Calls For More Funding To Fight Opioid Crisis In Westchester
Schumer Calls For More Funding To Fight Opioid Crisis In Westchester Mre must be done to fight the opioid crisis in Westchester and Rockland, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer said Friday. Schumer announced he will push to secure additional federal funding for Westchester and Rockland. In 2016, overdose deaths in Westchester and Rockland increased by nearly 200 percent. “The opioid crisis in Westchester and Rockland Counties and throughout New York is a national emergency that’s taken the lives of far too many Americans,” said  Schumer.  "As budget deal negotiations continue, I will do everything in my power to secure additional grant funds in New York that co…

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by Sam Barron