Buffalo, NY – Dr. Albert R. Cowie, a 36-year-old practicing radiologist from Amherst, has been arrested and charged with federal crimes related to the distribution of controlled substances.
According to the complaint, between January 25, 2010 and March 22, 2014, Dr. Cowie wrote 280 illegal prescriptions for controlled substances such as Oxycodone, Percocet, and Hydrocodone. The prescriptions were distributed to three individuals who then went to local pharmacies and had the scripts filled.
Assistant U.S. Attorney George C. Burgasser stated that the individuals involved retained some of the controlled substances for personal use but returned the remainder of the narcotics to Dr. Cowie for his own use. The complaint also alleges that Dr. Cowie provided $200 a day to a prostitute to support her heroin addiction and gave her prescriptions for Xanax and Percocet.
Dr. Cowie allegedly instructed a confidential witness to lie to insurance investigators about his prescription fraud, saying “okay so just say they were written for me even though they were written for you…is what you’re saying?” Dr. Cowie replied, “right.”
U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr., stated, “At a time when many in this community continue to struggle with serious opiate addiction, today’s arrest reveals that such powerful narcotics can sometimes become available for abuse because of the illegal actions of those in the medical community.”
Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt added, “Not only was Dr. Cowie abusing his power to write prescriptions for pain medication, he was abusing the prescription pills himself. As a health care professional, Dr. Cowie should have known better, but this case proves that opiate addiction is a threat to everyone, to all socio and economic strata.”
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York State Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, and the Amherst Police Department.
Dr. Cowie has been charged with unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance by fraud, and conspiracy to commit a drug felony. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine or both.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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