4 Charged, Doc Loses License After Morris Co. Opioid Scheme: AG

DENVILLE, NJ — Four people were charged in connection with an illegal opioid-distribution network that operated out of a Denville doctor's office, state officials announced Friday. Dr. Leslie Feigin wasn't criminally charged, but he lost his license to practice medicine as a result of the investigation, according to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General.

Authorities discovered the distribution network during an investigation opened after a tip that Feigin "indiscriminately" prescribed opioid medications, the AG's office said. Four people, including an employee in Feigin's office, engaged in a scheme to distribute opioids through forged prescriptions in the geriatric medicine practitioner's name, authorities said.

The investigation also provided the basis for allegations that Feigin "engaged in gross and repeated negligence, professional misconduct, and other violations statutes and/or regulations administered by the Board of Medical Examiners, including that he indiscriminately prescribed CDS and failed to perform required checks of the New Jersey Prescription Monitoring Program," the AG's office said.

Feigin agreed to retire and have his medical license permanently revoked in a June 25 consent order from the State Board of Medical Examiners. He can no longer practice medicine in New Jersey.

Four people were charged July 27 with third-degree conspiracy and third-degree obtaining a controlled dangerous substance by fraud:

• Rachel Welch, 36, of Lake Hiawatha, an employee in Feigin's office. Welch was also charged with three counts of forgery and four counts of distribution of CDS, all in the third-degree.
• Kevin Jarvis, 35, of Lake Hiawatha, who used Welch's position at the medical practice to facilitate the illegal transactions, the AG's office said.
• Edward Williams, 34, of Netcong, and Dylan Matus, 23, of Maywood, who purchased opioids in the scheme, authorities said.

Four illegal transactions occurred between May 2020 and August 2021, according to the AG's office:

• Welch submitted a forged prescription for 60 Oxycodone pills to a pharmacy in Williams’ name at the request of Jarvis on May 6, 2020, authorities said. Williams picked up the prescription, and Jarvis paid Welch $525, according to the AG's office.
• Jarvis sold Oxycodone pills Feb. 18, 2021, via a forged prescription Welch submitted and then paid her $500, officials said.
• Jarvis sold pills again via a forged prescription from Welch on May 14, 2021, and then paid her $900, according to authorities.
• On July 7, 2021, Welch submitted another forged prescription for 90 Oxycodone pills to a pharmacy in Matus's name, at Jarvis's request, officials said. Matus picked up and signed for the prescription, according to the AG's office. Welch then sent Jarvis $40 to partially cover the cost the pharmacy charged, officials said.

Welch, Williams and Matus were charged via complaint summonses and were processed and released. Officials took Jarvis into custody and placed him in the Morris County Jail. Following a first appearance, he was released with conditions pending trial.