Brick Physician Assistant Sold Oxycodone, Xanax Prescriptions: Prosecutor

BRICK, NJ -- A physician assistant from Brick Township has been charged with selling prescriptions for oxycodone and Xanax as well as other drugs, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Frank Campione, 45, of Stoney Point Drive, Brick, is charged with one count each of third-degree unlawful practice of medicine, second-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, and third-degree conspiracy to obtain a controlled dangerous substance by fraud, said Charles Webster, spokesman for the prosecutor’s office.

Campione has posted $150,000 bail with no option to post 10 percent, as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Honora O’Brien Kilgallen, Webster said.

Campione’s arrest was the result of a four-month investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Webster said.

The investigation revealed that between January 2015 and January 2016, Campione, a licensed physician assistant with a home office in Brick, met with individuals in public places and sold them prescriptions -- prescriptions that were not the result of a medical diagnosis -- for the opiates and other controlled dangerous substances, including oxycodone and Xanax, Webster said.

If convicted of the second-degree offense, Campione faces a sentence of five to 10 years in prison. If convicted of either of the third-degree charges, he faces a sentence of up to five years in prison for each count, Webster said.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Merlin K. Thomas.

Campione is represented by Frederick P. Sisto of Brick Township.

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law, Webster said.