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Opioid Epidemic

Police & Fire
Search Warrant Yields Cocaine, Fentanyl, Charges For Hudson Valley Suspect Search Warrant Yields Cocaine, Fentanyl, Charges For Hudson Valley Suspect
Search Warrant Yields Cocaine, Fentanyl, Charges For Hudson Valley Suspect A Hudson Valley man is facing drug charges after a months-long investigation into narcotics sales. Richard Fernandez, age 40, was arrested on Wednesday, Nov. 20, following a five-month investigation by the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office Drug Task Force. Investigators executed a court-authorized search warrant at a residence in Pomona, recovering cocaine, fentanyl pills, and other pharmaceutical drugs during the search. Fernandez has been charged with: Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree; Four counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in t…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Republican Marc Molinaro On Track To Win In NY’s 19th District (Developing) Republican Marc Molinaro On Track To Win In NY’s 19th District (Developing)
Republican Marc Molinaro On Track To Win In NY’s 19th District (Developing) This story has been updated. Republicans appeared poised to win in New York’s 19th Congressional District, with Marc Molinaro seemingly on track to defeat Democrat Josh Riley early Wednesday, Nov. 9.  Molinaro, the Dutchess County executive, was leading Riley by 2.2 percentage points, 51 to 49 percent, as of early Wednesday morning, Nov. 9, with more than 95 percent of the votes in. The 19th Congressional District includes the counties of Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster, as well as portions of Broome, Dutchess, Montgomery, and Rensselaer counties. …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
New Details Released On NY's $1.1 Billion Settlement With Nation's Biggest Opioid Distributors New Details Released On NY's $1.1 Billion Settlement With Nation's Biggest Opioid Distributors
New Details Released On NY's $1.1 Billion Settlement With Nation's Biggest Opioid Distributors New York has reached a $1.1 billion agreement with three of the nation's largest opioid distributors to help curb and prevent drug use across the state. Attorney General Letitia James announced an agreement with McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health Inc., and Amerisource Bergen Drug Corporation — three of the nation’s largest drug distributors — that will deliver up to $1.1 billion to New York state to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic.  Earlier report: NY, Other States Reach $4.5B Settlement With Purdue Pharma Over Its Role In Opioid Epidemic The agreement is the largest m…

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by Zak Failla
News
NY, Other States Reach $4.5B Settlement With Purdue Pharma Over Its Role In Opioid Epidemic NY, Other States Reach $4.5B Settlement With Purdue Pharma Over Its Role In Opioid Epidemic
NY, Other States Reach $4.5B Settlement With Purdue Pharma Over Its Role In Opioid Epidemic New York is joining several other states in winning a multi-billion dollar settlement - one of the largest in the country’s history - with Purdue Pharma for its role in the opioid epidemic that has plagued the US for years. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a $4.5 billion settlement with the pharmaceutical company that will put them out of business after falsely marketing its products to get Americans hooked on opioids. The owners of Purdue Pharma, the Sackler family, will pay out a total of $4.325 billion over the next nine years, with New York State receiving approximately $200 million. Cuomo …

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by Zak Failla
News
Elmsford Man Accused Of Supplying Heroin, Fentanyl That Led To Fatalities Elmsford Man Accused Of Supplying Heroin, Fentanyl That Led To Fatalities
Elmsford Man Accused Of Supplying Heroin, Fentanyl That Led To Fatalities Nine suspects - including a man from Westchester - are facing charges for an alleged drug trafficking operation that led to fatal overdoses in Westchester and the Bronx. The charges are against nine alleged members of a criminal organization that trafficked in heroin and the potent synthetic opioid fentanyl in the Soundview section of the Bronx and in Westchester, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. More than 30 pounds of heroin and fentanyl, five handguns, an assault rifle and $170,000 cash were seized. The investigation into the drug trafficking operation was launched …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Two Medical Office Managers Charged In Drug Sweep With Writing Fake Oxycodone Prescriptions Two Medical Office Managers Charged In Drug Sweep With Writing Fake Oxycodone Prescriptions
Two Medical Office Managers Charged In Drug Sweep With Writing Fake Oxycodone Prescriptions Two medical office managers who took advantage of electronic prescribing to allegedly dispense more than 50,000 oxycodone pills were scooped up in a wide-ranging drug sweep that included 18 arrests. The enforcement action, conducted by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the Orange County Drug Task Force, primarily used undercover police officers to purchase heroin, cocaine, and prescription medications.  The countywide enforcement action was designed to help clean up neighborhoods throughout Orange County by targeting individuals trafficking narcotics, the …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Ex-Family Doctor, 83, Sentenced For Prescribing Opioids That Led To 27-Year-Old’s OD Death Ex-Family Doctor, 83, Sentenced For Prescribing Opioids That Led To 27-Year-Old’s OD Death
Ex-Family Doctor, 83, Sentenced For Prescribing Opioids That Led To 27-Year-Old’s OD Death A doctor with a family medical practice in Manhattan may spend the rest of his life being bars after being slapped with a 20-year sentence for prescribing deadly amounts of opioids to patients, one of whom died from an overdose. Prosecutors announced that Martin Tesher, 83, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for nine counts of unlawful distribution of oxycodone without a legitimate medical purpose and one count of unlawful distribution of oxycodone and fentanyl that resulted in the death of a patient. In addition to his prison term, Tesher has been ordered to pay $3,700 in restitution…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
12 Nabbed In Hudson Valley Drug Trafficking Ring Bust, State AG Says 12 Nabbed In Hudson Valley Drug Trafficking Ring Bust, State AG Says
12 Nabbed In Hudson Valley Drug Trafficking Ring Bust, State AG Says A dozen people are facing a host of charges for operating a drug distribution ring out of the Hudson Valley. Attorney General Barbara Underwood announced this week that a 110-count indictment charging 12 members of a narcotics trafficking ring operating in Dutchess, Orange and Ulster counties has been unsealed. They are accused of selling thousands of prescription pills, including oxycodone, amphetamine, diazepam, clonazepam, and buprenorphine to dozens of customers each day. The indictment alleges that several members of the drug ring focused on the purchase and resale of prescription…

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by Zak Failla
News
Westchester Doctor, Pharmacist Illegally Sold Oxycodone Pills, Feds Say Westchester Doctor, Pharmacist Illegally Sold Oxycodone Pills, Feds Say
Westchester Doctor, Pharmacist Illegally Sold Oxycodone Pills, Feds Say A doctor and pharmacist from Westchester were among seven medical professionals that have been accused of illegally distributing millions of oxycodone pills. Yonkers resident Nadem Sayegh, a doctor with offices in Westchester and the Bronx, and Marc Klein, who owns a pharmacy in White Plains, are each facing time behind bars for their roles in a pill mill that has been under investigation. Both are scheduled to appear in Manhattan federal court on Thursday. According to investigators who announced their arrests, Sayegh wrote illegal prescriptions in order to live a life of luxury.  He “mai…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
State Sues Purdue Pharma, Alleging Illegal Conduct, 'Scheme To Misrepresent Opioid Products' State Sues Purdue Pharma, Alleging Illegal Conduct, 'Scheme To Misrepresent Opioid Products'
State Sues Purdue Pharma, Alleging Illegal Conduct, 'Scheme To Misrepresent Opioid Products' A lawsuit has been filed against a prominent pharmaceutical company that allegedly misrepresented its products - including OxyContin - as being more benign than they are for decades. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Attorney General Barbara Underwood announced a lawsuit against Stamford-based Purdue Pharma L.P., Purdue Pharma Inc., and Purdue Fredrick Company, Inc. on Tuesday.  The company allegedly took part in a “decades-long and continuing pattern of persistent deceptive and illegal conduct, whereby Purdue's misled prescribers and patients about the risks of its opioids, including OxyConti…

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by Zak Failla
News
Family, Officer Save Man In BMW Barely Breathing Outside Area Mall Family, Officer Save Man In BMW Barely Breathing Outside Area Mall
Family, Officer Save Man In BMW Barely Breathing Outside Area Mall Saving a young man dying from a heroin overdose was a harrowing, life-changing event for a family of six, but just another day at work for police and EMS personnel. The Colucci family of Hopewell Junction was out for a day of fun and a movie at the Poughkeepsie Galleria Mall when a stop of two minutes for the kids to use the bathroom turned the day of enjoyment into one of fear. When leaving the mall, the mother, Jenn Colucci, noticed a black BMW parked down a couple spots had the door open and the bell was dinging over and over. At first, she thought nothing of it, but after loading the k…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Westchester Pair Charged With Selling Tens Of Thousands Of Oxycodone Pills Westchester Pair Charged With Selling Tens Of Thousands Of Oxycodone Pills
Westchester Pair Charged With Selling Tens Of Thousands Of Oxycodone Pills A pair of Westchester residents are among five facing charges for their alleged roles in a drug trafficking organization that distributed tens of thousands of oxycodone pills in the area. Geoffrey Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Yonkers residents Adriel Vasquez, 37 and Cindy Garcia, 40, were among five suspects who are facing charges for conspiracy to distribute the prescription pills in the Bronx and other locales. According to Berman, the five suspects obtained oxycodone pills from individuals with prescriptions, stored and packaged…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Walmart, Sam's Club To Limit Opioid Prescriptions Walmart, Sam's Club To Limit Opioid Prescriptions
Walmart, Sam's Club To Limit Opioid Prescriptions With the country in the midst of an opioid epidemic, Walmart is taking efforts to curtail drug abuse by its customers. Officials announced Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies around the country will fill all opioid prescriptions with no more than a seven-day supply, capping daily dosages at 50 morphine milligram equivalents. The new policy is in line with guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding opioid use and abuse. The new policy is expected to be implemented nationwide within two months. Walmart employees are expected to get additional training and ed…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Westchester, Putnam, Rockland County Execs Share Thoughts On Biggest Issues Westchester, Putnam, Rockland County Execs Share Thoughts On Biggest Issues
Westchester, Putnam, Rockland County Execs Share Thoughts On Biggest Issues Westchester County's new County Executive George Latimer made his Pattern for Progress debut Monday, April 23 as he joined Rockland County Executive Ed Day and Putnam County Executive Mary Ellen Odell for an annual Southern County Leaders discussion. It was held in Putnam County for the first time this year. Moderated by Pattern's President & CEO Jonathan Drapkin, the three county executives discussed some of the major issues facing the lower Hudson Valley, including high taxes, the opioid epidemic, and the need for infrastructure upgrades.  Additional questions came from audience membe…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Investigation Leads To Takedown Of Hudson Valley Drug Distribution Ring Investigation Leads To Takedown Of Hudson Valley Drug Distribution Ring
Investigation Leads To Takedown Of Hudson Valley Drug Distribution Ring More than a dozen alleged Hudson Valley gang members and an alleged drug supplier from New Jersey are facing prison time after a major narcotics distribution ring was broken up as part of “Operation Yellow Brick Road.” New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a 172-count indictment charging 16 members of the “600 Gang” operating in the Hudson Valley, who were allegedly selling heroin and cocaine in Orange County. Each of the suspects faces up to 25 years in prison. The bust - which was dubbed “Operation Yellow Brick Road,” partially due to ringleader Damion Jackson’s street na…

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by Zak Failla
News
Westchester Sues Highly Addictive Opioid Manufacturers, Distributors Westchester Sues Highly Addictive Opioid Manufacturers, Distributors
Westchester Sues Highly Addictive Opioid Manufacturers, Distributors Westchester County, facing the ever-escalating costs associated with combating the opioid epidemic, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against more than 30 parties alleged to manufacture and distribute the highly addictive painkiller. The county seeks to recover money used fighting the opioid and related heroin crisis in Westchester, the Hudson valley and nationwide. Westchester suffered 124 known opioid overdose deaths (includes heroin and prescription drugs) in 2016, according to the New York State Department of Health. The lawsuit alleges that the manufacturers, distributors and other entities …

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by Jon Craig