Two new york men charged with selling fraudulent oxycodone prescriptions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
February 17, 2012 |
NEWARK, N.J. – Two New York men made their initial court appearances today after being arrested by federal agents last night for allegedly operating an oxycodone distribution network using counterfeit medical prescriptions, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Jack E. Polo, (a/k/a “Spank”), 42, of Queens, N.Y., and Roland M. Sartori, 32, of Bellerose, N.Y., are each charged by Complaint with one count of conspiring to distribute oxycodone. They were arrested last night at Sartori’s home by agents of the FBI. Both men made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk in Newark federal court and were released on $50,000 unsecured bond, with their travel restricted to New York and New Jersey.
According to the criminal Complaints:
Since at least November 2010, the defendants had access to blank prescription paper that was sent to a New York State medical facility. Using specialized printing equipment, they created oxycodone prescriptions in the names of fictitious patients. The defendants printed several different telephone numbers on the phony prescriptions and used a network of co-conspirators, posing as employees of various doctors’ offices, to answer calls to those numbers in case any pharmacies attempted to verify the prescriptions.
The conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and up to a $1 million fine.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents with the FBI under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward, and the New York Police Department, for the investigation leading to today’s arrests.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shana W. Chen of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the Complaint are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel:
Polo: Carol Gillen Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark
Sartori: Salvatore J. Marinello Esq., Garden City, N.Y.
FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of New Jersey.
FEMA is now accepting applications from residents and business owners who sustained losses in Atlantic County, Cape May County, Essex County, Hudson County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Ocean County and Union County.
Register online at
www.disasterassistance.gov , by web-enabled mobile device atm.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT seven days a week until further notice.
