ROCHESTER, N.Y. – In a shocking case of medical malpractice, Kevin M. Whitman, a 27-year-old man from Irondequoit, New York, has been charged with distributing and dispensing a controlled substance, using a registration number issued to another person to obtain controlled substances, and obtaining controlled substances by fraud.
The charges, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine, were announced by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo on May 9, 2026. According to the criminal complaint, Whitman, who is not a licensed physician in New York State or anywhere else in the United States, used a DEA Registration Number belonging to Strong Memorial Hospital to issue 177 prescriptions to nine individuals for Schedule II controlled substances, totaling 38,067 dosage units. Of these 177 prescriptions, 173 were for oxycodone.
Whitman’s scheme was uncovered during a search of his residence, where law enforcement officers recovered a framed fake diploma purportedly from the University of Rochester Medical School. The investigation, which was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division, the U.S. Department Health of Human Services, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Naomi Gruchacz, and the New York State Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, under the direction of Attorney General Letitia James, also involved the University of Rochester Department of Public Safety, the New York State Police, and the Brighton Police Department.
Whitman made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen on May 9, 2026 and was released on conditions.
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.
Kevin M. Whitman, a 27-year-old man from Irondequoit, New York, faces serious charges of distributing and dispensing a controlled substance, using a registration number issued to another person to obtain controlled substances, and obtaining controlled substances by fraud.
Whitman, who is not a licensed physician, used a DEA Registration Number belonging to Strong Memorial Hospital to issue 177 prescriptions to nine individuals for Schedule II controlled substances, totaling 38,067 dosage units.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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