Five New York doctors, including one from the Bronx, are accused of illegally distributing millions of opioid pills.
The Manhattan U.S. attorney announced charges Thursday against a total of 10 defendants.
The Bronx doctor, Nadem Sayegh, was arrested Thursday morning and has an office in Kingsbridge. Patients unaware of the news were trying to get into the locked office for their appointments.
The indictment says Sayegh maintained a relationship with a co-conspirator and would issue oxycodone prescriptions in his name, for which there was no legitimate medical purpose, even writing some for patients who didn't visit his office. Prosecutors say that includes one patient who was overseas and another who was incarcerated.
The indictment also says Sayegh received over $100,000 in cash payments, an all-expenses-paid trip to Puerto Rico, cruises, expensive meals and luxury gifts like high-end whisky.