A Buffalo-area doctor is accused of issuing over 300,000 illegal painkiller prescriptions over four years, officials said Tuesday.
A grand jury indicted Williamsville physician Dr. Eugene Gosy on 114 charges in a conspiracy to provide medications like oxycodone, morphine and amphetamine without legitimate medical reasons. Law enforcement officials announced the charges Tuesday, months after raiding Gosy’s office and filing to seize his Ferrari and his Ford GT, The Buffalo News reported.
CDC CALLS FOR NEW GUIDELINES ON OPIOIDS TO REDUCE RISKS
“He was the No. 1 prescriber in New York,” John Flickinger, resident agent in charge of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration’s Buffalo office, said at a news conference. “Dr. Gosy wrote more prescriptions than one of the largest hospitals in New York City.”
The 27-page indictment alleges Gosy prescribed the medications while out of the country, ignored his training requirements and even signed blank prescriptions allowing patients to enter their names, medications and dosages. Authorities estimate Gosy’s false claims were worth over $241,000.
“Dr. Gosy let his patients down, he let his employees down, and he let the community down,” said Holly Hubert, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s Buffalo office.
A typed message posted outside Gosy & Associates Pain & Neurology Treatment Center Tuesday alerted patients practice was closed Tuesday due to an “emergency,” WKBW-TV reported. The practice’s website showed a statement Tuesday night instructing patients with an appointment to reschedule next week.
“At this time we are uncertain when the office plans to see patients,” the message said. “If you have an appointment scheduled for Wednesday 4/27/16 your appointment is cancelled.”
Gosy, a neurologist who has practiced for over 20 years, opened his own practice in 1999, according to his bio. He graduated from the Semmelweiss Medical University in Hungary and completed his residency at the Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital in Williamsville and the State University of New York at Buffalo.
“Importantly, the evidence will clearly show that all scripts written for Dr. Gosy’s patients were for legitimate medical purposes,” Gosy’s lawyer, Joel Daniels, told the Buffalo News. “We’re confident that, after hearing all of the evidence, a jury will agree that Dr. Gosy did nothing wrong.”
Investigators expect Gosy to turn himself in Wednesday, according to the TV station. His charges carry up to 20 years behind bars and a $1 million fine if he’s convicted.
Follow on Twitter @tobysalkc