Amherst doctor Albert R. Cowie, 38, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison after being convicted of obtaining controlled substances by fraud and committing health care fraud. U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo handed down the sentence in Buffalo, N.Y., marking the end of a years-long scheme that exploited the medical system for personal drug use and financial gain.
Cowie, a licensed radiologist, wrote over 200 illegal prescriptions for Oxycodone, Percocet, and Hydrocodone between January 2010 and March 22, 2014. Instead of prescribing for patients, he funneled the scripts through a middleman who filled them at local pharmacies. The individual kept some pills for personal use but returned the bulk to Cowie, who used them himself—bypassing legal and medical oversight entirely.
During a recorded meeting with a confidential witness, Cowie was caught instructing the individual to lie to insurance investigators. When the witness asked, ‘okay so just say they were written for me even though they were written for you…is what you’re saying?’ Cowie responded plainly: ‘right.’ That admission became a pivotal piece of evidence in the case.
The fraud directly impacted Univera Health Care and HealthNow New York, which were billed $20,482.83 for prescriptions that served no medical purpose. The charges stem from federal laws prohibiting the distribution of controlled substances without legitimate medical intent—a line Cowie not only crossed but exploited repeatedly.
Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. made it clear the prosecution sends a broader message: ‘Whether you’re a doctor or a derelict, you will be held accountable.’ He emphasized that the office will continue aggressively enforcing drug laws, warning that unchecked use leads to death or prison. ‘Lives are at stake,’ Kennedy said.
The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, New York State Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, and Amherst Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney George C. Burgasser prosecuted the case. DEA Special Agent-in-Charge James Hunt stated the sentencing exposes both a doctor’s crime and the deadly cycle of addiction it fuels—’a federal crime that furthers opioid addiction.’
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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