Former Town Councilman Brad Bender Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison For Role in Oxycodone Distribution

SOUTHAMPTON, NY - Former Southampton Town Councilman Brad Bender was sentenced Friday to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a charge of conspiracy to illegally distribute oxycodone, Newsday reports.

Bender, who was elected to the town board in 2013, resigned on Nov. 24 after pleading guilty to illegally distributing oxycodone.

In addition, Newsday reports, Bender was sentenced to three years of supervised release, and paid a $5,000 fine.

He allegedly obtained the painkillers from Michael Troyan, the Riverhead physician assistant charged earlier in 2015 with conspiring to illegally distribute oxycodone.

Bender, 55, of Northampton then allegedly sold the oxycodone in exchange for steroids and cash.

At his appearance before Justice Arthur D. Spatt at the federal courthouse in Central Islip Friday morning, according to27east he told the judge, “I am deeply remorseful and I apologize because I see now firsthand what pain this drug can cause."

Bender is a building contractor and past president of the Flanders, Riverside and Northampton Community Association.

When reached by phone after the court appearance, Bender declined to comment further other than to refer to what he'd said in the courtroom.