Doctor Sentenced To Prison For Illegally Selling Prescriptions For Opioids: AG

A Hauppauge doctor was sentenced to a year in jail on Tuesday for illegally selling prescriptions for opioid medications and for helping one of his non-physician employees issue prescriptions for controlled substances, according to Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

Kurt Silverstein, a doctor of osteopathic medicine who practiced in Hauppauge in 2009, was sentenced in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead after being found guilty for criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance, unauthorized practice a crime (medicine), and first degree falsifying business records, the AG said.

The evidence at trial proved that Silverstein sold prescriptions for opioid medications on several occasions; aided, abetted and authorized one of his non-physician employees to issue prescriptions for controlled substances at her discretion; and falsified electronic medical records relating to the patients to cover up his crimes.

Silverstein was taken into custody and will serve his sentence in the Suffolk County Correctional Facility.

The evidence at trial established that, from January through July 2009 and again in July 2011, Silverstein, only accepted cash, routinely left his office during office hours, often to play ice hockey or travel, the AG said.

In his absence, he had his receptionist print and sign his name to prescriptions for controlled substances, create electronic medical records of prescription-buying “patients,” and give the prescriptions to these individuals after they paid a cash “office visit” fee of up to $125, according to the AG.

The electronic medical record would then falsely reflect physical examinations and observations of the “patient,” fake conversations with the “patient,” and indicate a plan to continue the course of “treatment” from the last visit, as if Silverstein had actually seen the patient during an office visit, according to the AG.

The evidence revealed that the prescriptions that Silverstein sold through his receptionist were for controlled substances including Xanax, Norco (hydrocodone with acetaminophen), Suboxone, Adderall, and Clonazepam.

Since he was found guilty, the United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration has revoked Silverstein’s DEA license, the AG said.

“Kurt Silverstein put money ahead of the health and wellbeing of his patients – serving as a drug dealer in a white coat. Doctors should be on the front lines protecting their patients as we continue to combat the scourge of opioid addiction," Schneiderman said. "Instead, Dr. Silverstein helped fuel this deadly epidemic, and he’ll now be held accountable for his crimes."