LI Doctor, Son Accused Of Illegally Selling Prescription Drugs, Xanax, Adderrall: NCDA

GLEN HEAD, NY — A Glen Head doctor and his son were charged after being accused of illegally selling dozens of prescriptions for controlled substances, including opioids, amphetamines, and benzodiazepines, the Nassau County District Attorney's Office announced on Thursday.

Eric Taubman, 33, was accused of providing names and medication requests to his father, Richard Taubman, 71, who was accused of writing prescriptions without conducting medical evaluations, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said. Richard Taubman is a retired Great Neck obstetrician and gynecologist, the NCDA's office said.

The NCDA's office said they were both arraigned on April 30 before Judge William Bodkin after charges of:

• 20 counts of criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance or of a controlled substance by a practitioner or pharmacist (a C felony)
• Three counts of attempted criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance or of a controlled substance by a practitioner or pharmacist (a D felony)
• Fourth-degree conspiracy (an E felony)

Both pleaded not guilty and were released on their own recognizance, the NCDA's office said. They are due back in court on May 7, and if convicted, they face up to five and a half years in prison, the NCDA's office said.

The father-son duo was accused of operating a "family-run distribution hub for controlled substances," DA Donnelly said.

The DA's office said it is committed to holding accountable those who prioritize profit over public safety and health.

"By allegedly treating high-potency opioids, amphetamines, and benzodiazepines like casual favors for friends, these defendants demonstrated an unsettling disregard for the realities of the ongoing substance abuse crisis and betrayed the community's trust," DA Donnelly said.

DA Donnelly also thanked the DEA for its work in this joint investigation. DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam commended the work of the DEA Long Island SPEAR team alongside the NCDA's office for pursuing "those who drive and profit from the ongoing opioid crisis."

"Medical professionals are entrusted with protecting patients' lives, not destroying them by exploiting them to addiction and harm," Islam said. "This type of behavior will never be tolerated."

The investigation began after Queens pharmacist employees reported a "suspicious number" of prescriptions tied to Richard Taubman in July 2022 to the DEA tipline, the NCDA's office said. According to DA Donnelly, based on the investigation,

In early 2022, Richard returned to practice at a non-surgical weight loss center in Islandia and following an investigation, was "stripped of his ability to prescribe controlled substances" in August of 2022, the NCDA's office said.

The DEA and NCDA worked together on a multi-year joint investigation, which determined that between April 5, 2022, and June 29, 2022, Richard was accused of writing dozens of prescriptions for controlled substances for several people "without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the course of his practice," the NCDA's office said.

Richard's son, Eric, was accused of acting as an "intermediary" by supplying Richard with personal information and medication requests of his friends and acquaintances, the NCDA's office said.

According to the NCDA's office, Richard was accused of issuing prescriptions – hundreds of pills – to various people during the three months without a medical examination and submitting them electronically from his Glen Head home to Queens pharmacies. Eric was accused of being paid by the individuals for the illegitimate prescriptions, the NCDA's office said.

Upon investigation, it was determined that some individuals were accused of keeping the prescriptions to sell the pills for profit or trading the controlled substances for cash and drugs, like marijuana, the NCDA's office said.

The NCDA's office said the prescriptions consisted of oxycodone-acetaminophen (commonly known as Percocet), dextroamphetamine-amphetamine (commonly known as Adderall), and alprazolam (commonly known as Xanax).

Richard and Eric surrendered to NCDA detective investigators on April 30 and are represented by Vincent Bianco, Esq., the NCDA's office said.

The case is being prosecuted by Pharmaceutical Diversion and Cyber Crimes Unit Chief Heather Kalachman of the Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau under the supervision of Bureau Chief Jeremy Glicksman, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Investigations Division Rick Whelan, the NCDA's office said.

The NCDA's office said, "the charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless found guilty."