Federal investigators announced Tuesday that a Clarence resident has been indicted for the alleged issuing of hundreds of thousands of illegal opioid prescriptions.
Dr. Eugene Gosy, 55, is accused in a 114-count indictment of illegally prescribing various opioid drugs, often times by directing unqualified staff members to issue prescriptions. According to investigators, Dr. Gosy also allegedly authorized prescriptions on some occasions while he was out of the office and traveling.
"The indictment handed up today state's that the defendant's criminal conduct was orchestrated, pervasive, intentional and contrary to established medical practice," said U.S. Attorney William Hochul. "It goes without saying that the conduct was extremely dangerous."
Other law enforcers participating in Tuesday morning's news conference say the opioids prescribed illegally are highly addictive and serve as gateway drugs to heroin.
"According to (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) intelligence with the DEA, about 80 percent of people that are abusing heroin-fentanyl started off with abusing prescription painkillers," said John Flickinger, Resident Agent-In-Charge with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.
It was not disclosed whether any known local overdose cases could be linked directly to prescriptions allegedly handed out by Dr. Gosy. Hochul told reporters that the focus now is on the 114-count indictment but he added that "the investigation continues."
According to Holly Huber, Assistant Special Agent-In-Charge with the FBI in Buffalo, the investigation began two years ago into alleged illegal prescriptions that began as far back as 2006. Investigators were tipped, she said, by a former staff member at Gosy's Williamsville-based practice.
"The responsibility for the proper prescribing of and dispensing of controlled substances lies upon the prescribing practitioner," Huber stated. "Dr. Gosy let his patients down. He let his employees down and he let the community down."
Gosy is also charged in the indictment with defrauding insurance companies.
He was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday afternoon. Hochul said he was not in custody but was assured by Gosy's team of attorneys that he would voluntarily surrender in advance of Wednesday's proceeding.
