QNE_p016

QC12152016

14 THE QUEENS COURIER • DECEMBER 15, 2016 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM Queens doctor made $2.5M by illegally prescribing oxycodone pills out of his clinics BY ANGELA MATUA amatua@qns.com @AngelaMatua A doctor who owns and operates medical clinics in Astoria and Jamaica was arrested for writing thousands of “medically unnecessary” prescriptions for oxycodone over a fi ve-year period, according to federal prosecutors. Emmanuel Lambrakis, 69, sold prescriptions from his clinics at 175-61 Hillside Ave. in Jamaica and 32-76 31st St. in Astoria starting in January 2011. He wrote approximately 17,000 oxycodone prescriptions at one of his clinics, resulting in the distribution of nearly 2.4 million oxycodone tablets, which have a street value of at least $48 million. According to U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara, Lambrakis wrote 30 or more prescriptions for 30-milligram oxycodone pills in a single day. Th e doctor charged $150 in cash for a “patient visit,” where he would normally see several patients in the same examination room. Lambrakis would “perform simple, perfunctory body manipulations” like rotating arms and legs and would barely speak to the patients, the criminal complaint said. He would then give out prescriptions for 120 or more 30-milligram tablets. “Although licensed as a doctor, as alleged, Emmanuel Lambrakis was a prolifi c and dangerous drug dealer,” Bharara said. “He allegedly pumped medically unnecessary oxycodone pills into our communities, feeding the addiction of countless people. Th is arrest is a critical part of our overall fi ght against the devastating opioid abuse epidemic.” Lambrakis was charged with one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. “Drug dealers selling scripts for money give doctors a bad name,” said Special Agent in Charge James C. Hunt. “Th e dismantling of a modern day opium den masquerading as a medical clinic in the heart of Queens shows the result of law enforcement collaboration. Th e investigation identifi ed that Emmanuel Lambrakis allegedly diverted oxycodone pills to New York City streets enabling the one thing law enforcement, communities and health professionals are trying to avoid — opioid addiction and overdose deaths.” Photo via Google Maps Emmanuel Lambrakis sold thousands of prescriptions for oxycodone out of this Astoria clinic. Fire and Police Department personnel in Queens arrested on insurance fraud charges BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI smonteverdi@qns.com @smont76 Ten city fi rst responders — including six from Queens — surrendered on the morning of Dec. 13 to charges that they allegedly collected thousand of dollars through insurance fraud scams, according to the Department of Investigation (DOI). Marc Mastros, 37, a former FDNY EMT who is charged with defrauding AFLAC of approximately $118,630, and Devon Graham, 46, employed as a FDNY EMT since May 2005 and charged with defrauding AFLAC of approximately $71,310, were arraigned in court and face grand larceny charges in the second degree. A number of the suspects turned themselves in on Dec. 13 at the 112th Precinct‘s stationhouse in Forest Hills. Queens residents Juan Mastros, 28, Susan James, 58, Caleb Laues, 41, and Mourad Touati, 48, face grand larceny charges in the third degree for stolen property exceeding $3,000. Th e investigation began with a tip to the DOI from an individual who claims to have seen an AFLAC disability claim form left on top of a photo copy machine by a city EMS employee with what appeared to be a fake signature. According to records obtained in the investigations, some of the defendants are alleged to have been working and collecting their city salary and overtime pay while illegally collecting supplemental disability insurance. Each defendant was suspended upon his or her arrest. As a result of this investigation, the DOI has requested the FDNY and NYPD audit the prior disability claims of the individuals charged in the indictment. “Public employees are entrusted to adhere to the highest code of conduct,” Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman said. “Yet these defendants undermined the public trust in government and the integrity of our insurance system by perpetrating this alleged scheme. Cracking down on public corruption is a top priority for my offi ce, and we will continue our relentless work with our partners in law enforcement to root out fraud and waste wherever we fi nd it.” “Today’s arrests result from a lengthy DOI investigation into dozens of city workers, including Fire and Police Department employees,” DOI commissioner Mark G. Peters said. “We depend on honesty and integrity from all our public servants and these workers failed us. Our independent investigation will continue to root out this corrupt behavior with more arrests expected to follow.” Arrests of additional city employees are expected, according to the DOI. Photos by RHS NEWS One of six city workers arrested on insurance fraud charges at the 112th Precinct in Forest Hills on the morning of Dec. 13.


QC12152016
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