A brazen pharmacy owner and physician duo thought they could get away with dishing out prescription painkillers like candy, but the justice system had other plans. Feroze Nazirbage, 45, of White Plains, and Mordechai Bar, 55, of Brooklyn, were cuffed today and slapped with charges for allegedly running a massive oxycodone diversion operation.
According to federal authorities, Nazirbage and Bar were arrested after a lengthy investigation revealed they were peddling the highly addictive opioid to unsuspecting patients in exchange for cold, hard cash. The alleged scheme netted the duo a small fortune, with authorities estimating they made off with hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“As alleged, Dr. Mordechai Bar and Feroze Nazirbage breached the trust that was placed in them to prescribe and dispense controlled substances only for legitimate medical purposes,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. “They allegedly used their positions as healthcare professionals as a cover for what amounted to no more than common drug dealing operations.”
“The arrests today of Doctor Mordechai Bar and pharmacy owner Feroze Nazirbage are the result of the DEA’s commitment in pursuing those individuals who allegedly exacerbate the ongoing opioid crisis,” added DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III. “As alleged, these two healthcare professionals, who illegally diverted the highly addictive oxycodone for cash had a responsibility of protecting patients’ lives, not destroying them.”
Authorities claim Nazirbage and Bar conspired to distribute controlled substances, including oxycodone, without a legitimate prescription or patient medical examination. The duo allegedly pocketed the rewards, ignoring their ethical duty to prioritize patient health.
Both Nazirbage and Bar are expected to make their first appearance in White Plains federal court tomorrow. If convicted, they face a maximum of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy charge and up to 10 years in prison for each count of distributing controlled substances.
The cases are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and investigated by the DEA, FBI, HHS-OIG, and IRS-CI. As the opioid crisis continues to ravage communities nationwide, authorities remain committed to holding accountable those who exploit vulnerable individuals for personal gain.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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