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Northport Doctor Charged With Selling Prescriptions

An East Islip doctor under investigation for illegally overprescribing painkillers and other drugs has surrendered to DEA agents that have been cracking down on such cases in recent years, authorities said.

Dr. Carmine Mandarano is scheduled to appear Thursday at Central Islip federal court.

Prosecutors said the 61-year-old allergist and internist from Northport had been suspected of illegal distribution of controlled substances since fall of 2012.

Several people being treated for addiction told a drug treatment counselor that Mandarano made it “easy” to get oxycodone prescriptions, and the counselor in turn alerted authorities, according to court documents.

The New York State Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement told DEA agents that Mandarano had prescribed more than 308,000 oxycodone pills between 2010 and 2012, which investigators termed extremely high for his type of practice.

Federal agents raided Mandarano’s office on Main Street in April and allegedly found in his records that his patients included one appeared to have faked a rib fracture, another who the state warned him was “doctor shopping” and others that tested positive for using illegal drugs such as cocaine and heroin—red flags for doctors, records show.

DEA agents also said Mandarano sold prescriptions for Suboxone—a medication used to treat opioid addiction that is also commonly abused—for $100 cash each, records show.

Mandarano faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.