Doctor From NHP Falsely Certified School Bus, Commercial Drivers: Officials

A doctor from New Hyde Park who pleaded guilty to illegally selling oxycodone prescriptions could now face 15 years in prison for public corruption, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Dr. Gerald Surya, 47, pleaded guilty Friday to falsely certifying physical examinations for commercial drivers.

Officials say Surya claimed he found applicants physically fit to drive heavy commercial vehicles during examinations for commercial driver’s licenses when he never actually examined the applicants.

Drivers of certain commercial vehicles, including school buses and heavy transportation trucks, have to pass several tests and an examination before obtaining a USSDOT-regulated commercial driver’s license (CDL):

• They must pass written tests and road tests related to safely driving large vehicles.
• Applicants need to be examined and certified fit to drive these vehicles by a physician or other qualified medical personnel who is authorized by the USDOT.
• Applicants must file a copy with the DMV.
• USDOT-certified medical examiners are required to electronically transmit to USDOT copies of certifications they have executed for CDL applicants on a monthly basis.

According to officials, Surya, who was authorized to conduct USDOT mandated medical examinations and certifications for CDL applicants, claimed to have performed the examinations at his office, located at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens.

These applicants, however, were not examined by Surya, but by other office staff members who had little or no medical training and were not authorized to conduct the mandated medical examinations, officials say.

Surya, who served as a senior aviation medical examiner at JFK Airport, was arrested in Sept. 2015 for allegedly selling oxycodone prescriptions to people with no legitimate medical need in exchange for cash. He has since pleaded guilty to the related charges.

Surya's 2015 Mugshot via Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York