LI Doctor Convicted Of Illegal Distribution Of Oxycodone: Feds

DEER PARK, NY — A Deer Park-based doctor was convicted of illegally administering highly addictive painkillers Thursday, according to federal officials.

A federal jury in Central Islip found Frank Parasmo, 75, of Great River, guilty on 31 counts of unlawfully distributing oxycodone and one count of unlawfully distributing hydrocodone without a legitimate medical purpose, according to Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, acting United States attorney for the eastern district of New York.

“By prescribing painkillers in the absence of any recognized medical need, the defendant not only betrayed his oath as a physician to do no harm, he also endangered the lives of vulnerable patients and contributed to the spread of the opioid epidemic by peddling dangerous drugs,” Kasulis said.

As proven at trial, Parasmo provided prescriptions for oxycodone and hydrocodone pills to 18 of his patients without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the course of a professional medical practice between January 2014 and December 2015, officials said.

Parasmo, who held an office in Deer Park, issued prescriptions to patients who had just completed detox treatment in rehabilitation facilities, as well as patients who had just been discharged from the hospital following an overdose, officials said. In addition, he issued prescriptions to many patients he knew were taking illegal drugs or who he suspected were addicts; there is a significant risk of an overdose when oxycodone is taken with heroin and cocaine, according to the court.

From 2010 to 2015, Dr. Parasmo prescribed over 1.5 million oxycodone and hydrocodone pills, making him one of the top prescribers of the painkiller in New York State during that time period, officials added.

“The egregious prescribing records detailed in court proceedings outlined clearly how the defendant disregarded his patients’ health, and instead, risked their lives while they suffered from substance abuse,” Ray Donovan, Drug Enforcement Administration special agent-in-charge, said. “There is no excuse for a doctor, an individual who is given great trust and responsibility, to put their patient’s lives and the public’s health, in jeopardy. "

The verdict followed four weeks of trial before United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack. Dr. Parasmo faces up to 20 years in prison.