Doctor Charged In Fatal Overdose Death Of Hauppauge Man: DEA

HAUPPAUGE, NY - A Queens doctor was arrested for prescribing addictive painkillers and other controlled substances in potentially lethal dosages and combinations to patients of his medical practice resulting in 3 overdose deaths, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced on Thursday.

Dr. Lawrence Choy, 65, was charged with two counts of second degree manslaughter, nine counts of second degree reckless endangerment and 220 counts of criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance, according to the DEA.

He was arrested on March 29 at his home in Sheboygan, Wisconsin where he moved in 2017 after he was visited by investigators at his New York office, the DEA said.

He was then released on bail set by a judge in Sheboygan and was extradited to New York earlier this week to face charges.

The charges were related to 14 patients, to whom Choy allegedly issued prescriptions other than in good faith in the course of his professional practice, the DEA said.

Three of these patients, including one Long Island man, ultimately died of prescription drug overdoses between 2013 and 2016.

Michael Ries, a 30-year-old who worked in car dealerships, died on March 23, 2014 at his family’s home in Hauppauge, the DEA said.

The cause of death was determined to be acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, alprazolam and carisoprodol.

A medical examiner’s report noted several empty pill bottles at the scene that were associated with prescriptions Choy issued to Ries between October of 2013 and February of 2014.

Three days before his death, on March 20, 2014, Ries received and filled four prescriptions from Choy for oxycodone, oxycodone-acetaminophen, alprazolam and carisoprodol, for a total of 720 pills (or 24 pills per day if taken as prescribed), the DEA said.

In the two months before that, Choy issued him prescriptions for more than 2,100 pills of controlled substances during three office visits, the DEA said.

The investigation revealed Choy began treating Ries in 2012 and immediately prescribed high-dosage opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions, which Ries had never before been prescribed, the DEA said.

Despite awareness of indications of abuse by Ries, including multiple accidents, Choy’s only adjustment to medications was an increase in dosage, the DEA said.

Choy faces one count of manslaughter and thirty-seven counts of criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance in connection with Ries, the DEA said.

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