A Great Neck doctor has admitted to illegally prescribing the painkiller oxycodone to patients that he knew were either reselling or addicted to the drug, including Medford pharmacy massacre gunman David Laffer.
Eric Jacobson, 51, of Huntington, pleaded guilty Monday at Central Islip federal court to conspiracy, distribution of a controlled substance and other charges in a 19-count indictment.
“Instead of providing needed medical services to his community, Dr. Jacobson directly contributed to the tragedy of prescription drug abuse,” Loretta Lynch, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement. She added that the case “should serve as a warning to those who would violate their oath as medical professionals to do no harm.”
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Prosecutors said that Jacobson charged so-called doctor shoppers—patients who feign illnesses or injuries to rack up as many prescriptions for pain pills as they can to feed their addictions or for resale on the street—from December 2009 through June 2012.
Drug Enforcement Administration agents raided Jacobson’s office in December 2011, when he relinquished his license to prescribe controlled substances, but then continued prescribing drugs anway, authorities said.
He was arrested in June 2012 and has been jailed ever since. He faces up to nine years in federal prison when he is sentenced before Judge Joseph Bianco. Jacobson agreed to forfeit $250,000 he earned from the scheme.
