LI Man Illegally Obtains Hundreds Of Prescription Drugs: NCDA

MINEOLA, NY — A Valley Stream man has been indicted for using doctors' prescription pads to illegally get oxycodone and morphine from several Nassau County pharmacies, the Nassau County District Attorney's Office said.

James Cosentino, 29, was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned on Thursday on multiple charges, including felonies: eight counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and eight counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

"This defendant has, on several occasions, allegedly used forged prescriptions to obtain large quantities of opioids, including Oxycodone and Morphine, from pharmacies around Nassau County," said DA Anne Donnelly. "Again and again, Cosentino allegedly used these forged prescription pads – stolen from doctors’ offices – to get his hands on thousands of pills. We will continue to fight the scourge of opioids in our county and prosecute those individuals who prolong the life of this epidemic in our communities."

According to the charges, Cosentino acquired prescription pads that were stolen from doctors' offices in Inwood and Valley Stream.

DA Donnelly said that, according to the charges, Cosentino allegedly acquired prescription pads that were stolen from doctors’ offices in Inwood and Valley Stream. Between approximately December 2021 and April 2022, the defendant allegedly went to several Nassau County-based pharmacies, on numerous occasions, and handed forged prescriptions to the pharmacies for drugs including Oxycodone and Morphine.

From Dec. 2021 to April 2022, Cosentino got more than 1,700 pills, the D.A.'s release said.

He is due back in court on August 3. If convicted of the top charge, Cosentino faces a potential maximum of nine years in prison, according to the D.A.