Crime & Safety

Merrick Doctor Pleads Not Guilty in Opiate Overdose Deaths

Prosecutors say he wrote prescriptions for 600,000 oxycodone, which caused the death of two patients.

A doctor from Merrick pleaded not guilty in court on Tuesday to illegally distributing pain medication, which authorities say lead to two overdose deaths.

According to Newsday, Michael Belfiore, 53, is accused of writing 5,000 prescriptions for 600,000 pills of oxycodone, a powerfail opiate pain medication, over three years for 29 patients. Authorities say that two of the patients he gave a prescription to died of opiate overdoses. Their names were withheld.

Belfiore's court appearance on Tuesday, Newsday reported, added more charges against him. He was originally arrested and charged in October of 2014.

Find out what's happening in Merrickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Read more at Newsday.

Photo: Shutterstock.

Find out what's happening in Merrickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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