UWS Doctor Ran a ‘Pill Mill’ With His Wife and Will Go to Prison, Prosecutors Say
Dr. Rogelio Lucas and his wife Lydia Lucas ran a “pill mill” from a doctor’s office on the Upper West Side, according to prosecutors. The two were found guilty at trial and have been sentenced to prison terms.
Rogelio Lucas, 80, was sentenced to 1-4 years in prison on one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree and 1½ years in prison on each of 29 counts of Criminal Sale of a Prescription for a Controlled Substance, all to run concurrently. Lydia Luca, 82, was sentenced to 1-3 years in prison for Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree and 1 year in prison on each of 29 counts of Criminal Sale of a Prescription for a Controlled Substance, all to run concurrently.
After running a “legitimate” medical practice for years, Dr. Lucas began churning out illegitimate prescriptions for oxycodone from 2009 until 2015, according to the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York.
The doctor’s office moved multiple times, eventually ending up at 215 West 101st St., Suite 1A. Street level drug dealers “established a presence at the office,” and sent patients to buy pills in cash from the doctor, prosecutors said. About 3.2 million pills of oxycodone with a street value of nearly $80 million flooded the streets based on the office’s actions, prosecutors said.
Oxycodone image via NIH. Office location photo by Above_96th.
Wish I knew about it before they were shut done . I would have ordered a couple of 100 for myself. I’m always late to the party
Haha! Good for you Matey! And why not! Something uplifting to take our minds off it all!
Nice retirement community.
I wonder how many people we encounter every day who are avid users of oxycodone? I bet we’d be surprised to find that those we suspect the least are using it the most.
I just assume most people are off their trolleys on one pill or another.
Commit a crime,make tons of money and get a very light sentence. Yes, they are old but not too old to run a lucrative drug ring.
Disgusting! Where is all the money?
More about showing the state is taking a tough line than anything else. With such short sentences the doctor and his wife will be out either on parole or “time served” in < two years.
Suppose the larger issue is the shame that comes from now both being convicted felons, and (possible) loss of medical license for the doctor.
For all the harm done, and vast fortune made will agree it all seems like too little and far too late.
But now he and she can count on there retirement of the state to take care the both of them. But most likely he’ll be dead by the time they get out.
Interesting that it took seven years for the state or anyone else in authority to notice the excessive number of oxycodone scripts written by *one* physician.
Rogelio Lucas (no longer a physician as has surrendered his NYS medical license), was writing 40 to 50 scripts for oxycodone *per day*. Published reports have DEA putting sum total at > 23,600 prescriptions.
https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2018/05/07/dr-rogelio-lucas-and-his-wife-convicted-30-counts