New York City is reeling from the arrest of Dr. Emmanuel Lambrakis, a licensed physician who faces federal charges for his alleged role in an illegal oxycodone distribution network.
Preet Bharara, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James J. Hunt of the DEA, and other law enforcement officials announced the charges against Dr. Lambrakis yesterday. They allege that over a five-year period, he wrote thousands of unnecessary prescriptions for oxycodone, totaling nearly 2.4 million pills.
“As alleged, Emmanuel Lambrakis was a prolific and dangerous drug dealer masquerading as a doctor,” said U.S. Attorney Bharara. “His actions have fueled the opioid epidemic and we are committed to putting an end to it.”
The DEA’s Special Agent in Charge James C. Hunt echoed these sentiments, stating that the investigation demonstrates the collaborative efforts of law enforcement in tackling modern-day drug dens. “This is not just about shutting down a clinic; it’s about preventing addiction and overdose deaths,” he said.
According to court documents, Lambrakis operated two medical clinics in Queens where he charged $150 per ‘patient visit’ for writing large-volume prescriptions for oxycodone. He often saw multiple patients simultaneously in the same examination room, performing minimal physical examinations and conversing little with his patients.
Between 2011 and the present, Lambrakis is accused of writing approximately 17,000 prescriptions for oxycodone, with a street value estimated at over $48 million. His actions are thought to have contributed significantly to the opioid crisis in New York City.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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