A Bergen County doctor has been sentenced to six years in prison for distributing opioids to patients without a legitimate medical reason and falsifying medical records to cover it up.
Robert Delagente, 48, of Oakland, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances, three counts of distribution of controlled dangerous substances, and one count of falsifying medical records.
Delagente was a doctor at North Jersey Family Medicine in Oakland, New Jersey, where he prescribed controlled substances, including oxycodone, Percocet, Tylenol with codeine, and various benzodiazepines, outside the ordinary course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose.
He ignored the inherent danger and medical risk of overdose, drug abuse, and death that can accompany prescriptions of highly addictive opioids, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxers, both on their own and in combination with one another.
Delagente also altered medical records of patients who received controlled substance prescriptions from him after law enforcement officials had subpoenaed the records in late April 2019.
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi sentenced Delagente to three years of supervised release.
The government credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Messenger in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason S. Gould and Sean M. Sherman represented the government in this case.
Mandatory Facts: Robert Delagente, 48, of Oakland, New Jersey; Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Dangerous Substances, Distribution of Controlled Dangerous Substances, Falsifying Medical Records; City and State: Newark, New Jersey; Exact Date: Not specified; Sentence: 72 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release.
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Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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