Nassau Doctor Charged With Illegally Prescribing Oxycodone

A Nassau doctor was indicted Thursday for illegally distributing oxycodone, which authorities say led to the deaths of two Nassau County residents.

According to prosecutors, Michael Belfiore, a Merrick doctor who lives in Westbury, was charged with two counts of illegal distribution of oxycodone, which authorities say caused the deaths of Edward Martin and John Ubaghs. He was also charged with 26 counts of illegal distribution of oxycodone.

"As alleged in the indictment, Dr. Belfiore’s illegal distribution of oxycodone tragically caused the overdose deaths of two young men," Acting United States Attorney Bridget Rohde said. "Medical professionals who issue prescriptions without a legitimate medical purpose are violating the law and will be held accountable, especially when they cause the death of the very patients they have a duty to heal."

The case was investigated by the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad-Long Island District Office (TDS-LIDO), comprised of agents and officers of the DEA, Nassau County Police Department, Suffolk County Police Department, Port Washington Police Department, Rockville Centre Police Department and the Internal Revenue Service.

Oxycodone is a scheduled controlled substance that may be dispensed by medical professionals only for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of a doctor’s professional practice. It is a powerful and highly addictive drug and is increasingly abused because of its potency when crushed into a powder and ingested, leading to a heroin-like euphoria.

"We hope the message is clear that law enforcement is zeroed in on opioid traffickers, whether a dealer, or a doctor," DEA Special Agent-in-Charge James Hunt said. "There is no excuse for medical professionals to engage in drug dealing, especially when that dealing ends lives."

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