United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BUFFALO, N.Y. – DEA New York Division Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan and U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr., announced today that Dr. Paul Biddle, 54, of Amherst, N.Y., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to identity theft and possession of unlawful hydromorphone HCL. The charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is handling the case, stated that Biddle was an anesthesiologist and pain management doctor who also operated a medical marijuana practice. Between Feb. 9, 2015, and Oct. 16, 2017, the defendant was prescribing controlled substances for two deceased patients. Biddle knew the patients were deceased and used their names and dates of birth knowingly and without lawful authority to obtain controlled substances for himself.

After the death of one of the patients, Biddle wrote 10 prescriptions using the deceased patient’s name and date of birth between Nov. 21, 2016, and Oct. 16, 2017. All of these prescriptions were filled by a pharmacy in Tampa, Fla., and shipped directly to the defendant’s home or office. After the death of the second patient, the defendant wrote 23 prescriptions using that deceased patient’s name and date of birth between Feb. 9, 2015, and Aug. 7, 2017. All of these prescriptions were also filled by a pharmacy in Tampa, Fla., and shipped directly to the defendant’s home or office. Biddle was obtaining these prescriptions and using them himself.

The plea is the result of an investigation by special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Western New York Healthcare Fraud Task Force; the New York State Department of Financial Services; Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; and the Amherst Police Department.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 9, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Wolford. 

# # #