BOSTON – A once-respected physician traded her oath for profit, admitting yesterday to a brazen scheme to illegally distribute Adderall, the potent stimulant. Leslie Caraceni M.D., 58, of Uxbridge, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute Adderall, and three counts of distributing and dispensing the drug. The scheme peddled prescriptions like party favors, bypassing any legitimate medical need.
According to federal prosecutors, Caraceni wasn’t working alone. She enlisted Rene Ruliera, 52, of Southborough, and Meghan Giacomuzzi, 37, of Whitinsville, in the operation. Ruliera and Giacomuzzi both previously pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Between March 2016 and February 2018, the trio ran a prescription mill out of Caraceni’s medical practices in Framingham and Whitinsville, preying on those seeking the drug without medical justification.
The setup was sickeningly simple. Patients – not patients, really, but customers – would meet with Ruliera or Giacomuzzi, state their desire for Adderall, and hand over approximately $200 in cash, credit, or debit. These weren’t thorough medical evaluations. Visits lasted mere minutes, and a signed prescription was the sole deliverable. Caraceni, the architect of the scheme, collected the profits, funneled through office cash and bank deposits. She even provided the blank prescription pads and explicit instructions on how to fill them out for maximum sale.
Electronic communications seized by investigators paint a damning picture of Caraceni’s direct involvement. The evidence clearly demonstrates her knowledge of the prescriptions being written, the volume of ‘patients’ seen in her absence, and the resulting profits. The scale of the operation is staggering: records from the Massachusetts Prescription Monitoring Program reveal over 1,500 Adderall prescriptions – totaling over 110,000 pills – were filled across the state based on Caraceni’s authorization.
U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman has scheduled Caraceni’s sentencing for December 15, 2020. She faces a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years per charge, along with a minimum of three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Ruliera is slated to be sentenced on September 8, 2020, and Giacomuzzi on November 17, 2020. The sentences will be determined based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant factors.
The takedown was a joint effort by United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division, Uxbridge Police Chief Marc Montminy, and Southborough Police Chief Kenneth Paulhus. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Estes of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case, vowing to hold accountable those who exploit the medical system for personal gain and fuel the opioid crisis with diverted stimulants.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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