“Papi” Gets 9 Years for Oxycodone Scam

HARTFORD, CT – Julian Cintron, 37, of New Haven, known on the streets as “Papi” and “Jay,” will spend the next nine years in federal prison for his central role in a brazen oxycodone fraud scheme that ripped through Connecticut. U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson handed down the 108-month sentence today, followed by three years of supervised release.

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad started unraveling the operation back in 2012, discovering a sophisticated network dedicated to manufacturing fraudulent prescriptions and flooding the greater New Haven area with the highly addictive painkiller. Cintron, identified as a key leader, oversaw the theft of identities – not just of patients, but of the doctors themselves. The crew pilfered personal identifying information of medical practitioners, using it to forge prescriptions and exploit the system.

Between February 2013 and September 2015, the organization amassed a staggering haul: more than 80,000 oxycodone pills, obtained through over 800 fraudulent prescriptions bearing the names of over 270 different “patients.” The scheme wasn’t just about volume; it was about maximizing profit. Investigators discovered that nearly all of the “runners” – the individuals recruited to fill the fake prescriptions – were enrolled in state-sponsored medical insurance, meaning the cost of the drugs was billed to Medicaid, a blatant abuse of taxpayer funds. The oxycodone was then sold on the streets for between $20 and $30 per 30 milligram pill.

Eleven individuals have been charged as a result of the extensive investigation. Cintron wasn’t acting alone. David Thompson and Alejandrino DeJesus, also of New Haven, were identified as crucial collaborators, responsible for recruiting the “runners” and transporting them to pharmacies across the state. DeJesus already received a 132-month sentence on November 7, 2016. Thompson is still awaiting his fate.

Law enforcement hit Cintron’s residence and vehicles on September 10, 2015, uncovering a treasure trove of evidence. Agents seized fraudulent prescriptions, ledgers detailing doctors’ DEA numbers, blank prescription pads, tamper-proof paper, computers, a printer, and a staggering collection of over 20 cell phones. Small amounts of cocaine and suboxone were also recovered. Cintron pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone on July 22, 2016.

The DEA Tactical Diversion Squad, comprised of officers from Bristol, Greenwich, Hamden, Milford, New Haven, Shelton, Vernon and Wilton Police Departments, worked tirelessly on this case, alongside Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy C. Brown and Robert M. Spector. The conviction of Cintron sends a clear message: exploiting the opioid crisis for personal gain will be met with swift and severe justice. This operation underscores the ongoing battle against drug trafficking and the lengths criminals will go to profit from addiction.