United States Drug Enforcement Administration

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brian R. Crowell and Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Marvin L. Korn MD of 88 West Garden Road, Larchmont, New York was arraigned today on a Felony Complaint charging him with three counts of Criminal Sale of a Prescription for a Controlled Substance, class “C” Felonies.

Over a period of eighteen months, the defendant, a psychiatrist, routinely “sold” prescriptions for various controlled substances with virtually no patient examination or consultation. The average time a “patient” would spend in the doctor’s office was less than ten minutes. Dr. Korn’s initial and follow-up assessments fell significantly below acceptable community standards of medical/psychiatric practice as the history obtained was insufficient to make a reasoned or judicious treatment decision. He failed to acquire a significant portion of what would be considered basic or essential clinical information.

The defendant’s arrest was the result of a six month long undercover investigation by the District Attorneys office and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion (Group TDS-NY) comprised of agents and officers from the U.S. Drug Enforcement (DEA), the New York City Police Department, Town of Orangetown Police Department and Westchester County Police Department, along with the Town of Mamaroneck Police, Harrison Police and the New York State Police.

Numerous transactions were made between the defendant and undercover officers regarding the sale of prescriptions for various controlled drugs that in turn were fulfilled by pharmacies throughout the Metropolitan area.

Prescriptions for controlled substances such as:  Clonazepam, Lorazepam, Zaleplon, Lunesta, Adderall, Zolpidem, Oxycontin, Oxycodone, Diazepam, Xanax, Ritalin, Ambien, Valium were routinely written to be dispensed without proper patient examination.

A search warrant was executed at the defendant’s home/office and the defendant taken into custody.

As of this date, the DEA executed an Immediate Suspension of Registration order to the defendant. The order bars him from the privilege of writing prescriptions for controlled substances, unless he prevails at a hearing.

DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian R. Crowell stated, “The accessibility of diverted prescription medication is the number one threat facing our teens. Seven of the top ten drugs used by 12th graders are prescription drugs and this leads many down the expressway to heroin addiction.  Those responsible for supplying fuel to this fire, such as diverted prescription drugs, are one of our highest priorities. I commend the men and women of the TDS Task Force, the Town of Mamaroneck Police, Harrison Police, New York State Police and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office for doing all they can to protect our communities from the threat of diverted pain medication. ” 

 “One of the most significant challenges law enforcement faces today is the alarming increase in the abuse of prescription drugs. To have a medical professional, who is bound by an oath to adhere to the highest moral, ethical, and legal principles and fully aware of the power of these controlled substances abusing his privileges, is a total betrayal of his profession. The teamwork at all levels of law enforcement, local, state and federal was instrumental in the ultimate takedown of this defendant,” said District Attorney Janet DiFiore.
 
The defendant was arraigned and bail was set at $1500. The defendant’s next court date is September 9th, 2013. He faces a maximum sentence of fifteen years in state prison on each of the counts.

Assistant District Attorney Tom Luzio, Chief of the Narcotics Bureau, is prosecuting the case.