Long Island Cardiologist Accused of Using Guns, Drugs to Pay For Failed Bid to Have Rival Doc Killed: LI Patch Best of 2015

We are taking a look back at some of the most-read articles on Long Island Patches in 2015. This article was published in April.

A doctor from Sands Point has been arrested for his involvement in a murder-for-hire scheme in which he planned to kill a rival cardiologist, authorities said.

Dr. Anthony Moschetto, 54, was first under investigation by DEA agents for selling Oxycodone pills out of his office in Great Neck, but the investigation escalated into a case involving arson, the sale of drugs and assault weapons, a murder plot and a room hidden by a moving bookshelf inside Moschetto’s home, police said.

Acting Nassau County Police Department Commissioner Thomas Krumpter called Moschetto a “hidden monster living in the North Shore area who has no respect for law and life.”

The Oxycodone pill investigation led to the additional undercover purchases of heroin and two fully loaded assault weapons, police said.

An undercover detective also learned about the seller’s pursuit of dynamite to blow up a property, police said.

“Moschetto was the supplier and mastermind of the scheme,” Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said. “He supplied the pills and guns as payments for criminal acts against a cardiologist who he had a professional dispute with.”

The dispute between Moschetto and his fellow doctor happened several months ago, police said. The two doctors worked in the same office building, located at 38 Northern Boulevard in Great Neck. After the dispute, Moschetto moved his offices to a different location in Great Neck.

Authorities did not name the fellow doctor, but last year the website of Heart Diagnostic Imaging listed Moschetto as the partner of Dr. Martin H. Handler. The cached version of the website says Moschetto joined Handler in the practice in 1994.

Authorities believe the business dispute is what caused Moschetto to hire two men, James Chmela, 43, of Selden, and Jack Kalamaras, 41, of Suffolk County, to commit arson to the competing cardiologist’s practice around Feb. 22. Moschetto first planned to purchase dynamite to blow up the doctor’s office, but he decided to have the office set on fire instead, police said.

Authorities were able to quickly extinguish the fire, which damaged the office but caused no injuries.

Moschetto then hired an individual, who was an undercover detective, to murder the competing doctor. The detective was paid $5,000 to have the doctor beaten and put in the hospital and then $20,000 to have him killed at a later date, police said.

Authorities “stopped a potential murder plot dead in its track,” Singas said.

Police believe the hit on the doctor was to be executed in May. Authorities have a video of Moschetto talking about the hire plot, which has not been released to the public.

During a search warrant on Moscehtto’s Sands Point home on Monday, authorities found a hidden room in his home that was accessed by a switch-activated, moving bookshelf. The basement room revealed hundreds of weapons, including hand grenades, knives and guns. The amount of weapons found were enough for a small army, Krumpter said.

Authorities are working to determine which weapons were illegal for Moschetto to own.

DEA Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt said, “Dr. Moschetto is a new breed of drug trafficker; one who sells blank prescription pads, assault weapons, plots attempted murders, commits arson and distributes diverted prescription pain pills out of his medical office.”

The case is ongoing. “We’re still learning a lot,” Singas said.

Additional charges may be filed based on the weapons found in Moschetto’s home, officials said.

At this time, Moschetto is charged with:

• Conspiracy in the second degree
• Conspiracy in the fourth degree
• Criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance degree
• Arson in the third degree
• Burglary in the third degree
• Two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree
• Two counts of criminal sale of a firearm in the third degree
• Criminal solicitation in the second degree
• Criminal solicitation in the fourth degree

Chmela is charged with:

• Criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree
• Arson in the third degree
• Burglary in the third degree
• Criminal sale of a firearm in the third degree

Kalamaras is charged with:

• Arson in the third degree
• Burglary in the third degree

The men were arraigned on Wednesday afternoon in First District Court in Hempstead.

Moschetto was released on a $2 million bond, according to his attorney Randy Zelin.

Zelin described his client as a well-respected cardiologist whose hobby is his job.

“What he was most concerned about today was his patients,” Zelin told Patch. “He was most concerned about their reaction, about them feeling comfortable about going to see him. Patients were calling the office all day asking about him. That speaks volume about his character and how he’s viewed in the community.”

Moschetto has been affiliated with St. Francis Hospital for over 20 years.

The doctor hopes to go back to work and care for his patients, Zelin said.

According to Zelin, Moschetto has no disciplinary history as a doctor. His client grew up in the community that he now lives and works in. “He is not going anywhere,” Zelin said.

Moschetto is the father of two children. He has a significant other who lives with him in his Sands Point home.

A conference on Friday will determine when Moschetto will next appear in court.

NCPD Photo: Anthony Moschetto

More on Patch:

• Long Island Doctor Arrested in Murder-For-Hire Scheme, Police Say
• Long Island Boss Pays for Firing Employee Who Rejected Sexual Advances
• Police: Man Arrested For Driving on Drugs With 9-Month-Old Child in His Car
• Sound Beach Man Charged in Hit-and-Run That Killed Miller Place Woman
• Rock the Rink This Weekend for Autism Speaks
• Northport Everyday Hero: Substance Abuse Activist Thomas J. Snyder
• April 14- Suffolk Arrest Report