Nurse Practitioner Allegedly Traded Oxycodone for Money
A nurse practitioner has been charged with the illegal distribution of oxycodone after allegedly exchanging unauthorized painkillers for cash.
A Hempstead-based nurse practitioner allegedly swapped oxycodone prescriptions for cash, according toNewsday.
Lisa Del Pozo, 49, was charged in Central Islip federal court on October 12, 2016, for illegal distribution of oxycodone and other controlled substances.
Authorities first began to look into Del Pozo and her health clinic after receiving a tip that she was allegedly supplying prescription drugs in exchange for cash, according toOxycodone Addiction News. After an investigation, DEA officials alleged that Del Pozo wrote approximately 3116 prescriptions for 532 patients between January 2015 and April 2016, totaling 126,407 pills, according to the report.
Authorities also found that during this same time period, there were 49 individuals who received 1230 of the prescriptions, of whom 22 had criminal records involving the possession or sale of a controlled substance. During a sting operation in March, the DEA enlisted one of Del Pozo’s clients as an informant, who hid an audio and video device to record the encounter.
According to the complaint, Del Pozo expressed in May some concerns about state officials who regulate prescriptions for controlled substances.
“We’re doing Percocets, we’re not doing these oxy’s,” stated Del Pozo, as reported byAddiction News. “It’s way too much. The state comes in, they want charts, it’s like ‘ahhhhh!’ I’m going bananas, you know?”
However, the report states that during the same meeting with the informant, Del Pozo agreed to take $200 in exchange for oxycodone prescriptions.
Del Pozo was released on a $100,000 appearance bond set by Magistrate Judge Gary R. Brown, according to a spokeswoman for the US attorney for the eastern district, as reported byAddiction News.
