Staten Island Doctor And Two Others Diverted Millions Dollars’ Worth Of Pain Pills
Bartered Prescriptions for Goods, Money, and Services
MANHATTAN, N.Y. - James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York (DEA), Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police (NYPD) announced the unsealing of an indictment charging of David Taylor, a state-licensed doctor, with writing medically unnecessary prescriptions for oxycodone over a five-year period. In addition to Taylor, Vito Gallicchio, and Daniel Garcia were arrested on charges that, from January 2012 through at least June 2017, they conspired with Taylor to distribute oxycodone. All three defendants are expected to be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge James L. Cott later today. The case has been assigned to United States District Court Judge Andrew L. Carter, Jr.
DEA Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt said: “It is alleged that millions of dollars’ worth of pain medication was diverted onto the streets of Staten Island, enabling addiction and overdoses on the borough. These arrests will impact Staten Island’s opioid market by shutting down an illicit pill distribution operation located at the heart of the borough, along Hylan Boulevard.”
Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon Kim said: “As the opioid epidemic wreaks havoc on our communities, Dr. David Taylor and his co-conspirators allegedly fueled the problem by writing prescriptions for and distributing medically unnecessary oxycodone. We remain committed to holding accountable individuals like Dr. Taylor who allegedly violate their oath to do no harm, and instead flood our streets with dangerous drugs.”
NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said: “As alleged, the defendants distributed Oxycodone for at least five years, at the expense of those addicted to these pain killers. The NYPD will aggressively pursue those who distribute illegal prescription drugs.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in federal court:
From January 2012 through at least June 2017, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, David Taylor, Vito Gallicchio, and Daniel Garcia, and others conspired to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone.
Taylor, 74, Gallicchio, 48, And Garcia, 57, are charged with one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone. This offense carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA’s Tactical Diversion (Group TDS-NY), which comprises agents and officers from the DEA, the NYPD, the New York State Police, New York State Department of Financial Services, and New York City Department of Investigation. He also acknowledged the assistance of HHS-OIG and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kiersten A. Fletcher and Dina Y. McLeod are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictments and the descriptions of the Indictments set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
