Staten Island

NYC Doctor, 2 Others Distributed Millions of Painkillers Illegally: Authorities

What to Know

  • A Staten Island doctor and two others face federal charges for allegedly selling huge amounts of Oxycodone illegally
  • Dr. David Taylor, 74, wrote countless medically unnecessary prescriptions for the opiate, authorities said
  • It's just the latest arrests in a multi-state crackdown on the opioid epidemic that has killed thousands across the U.S.

A Staten Island doctor and two others are charged with illegally distributing millions of oxycodone pills since 2012 having a street value in the millions of dollars, authorities say.

Dr. David Taylor, 74, Vito Gallicchio, 48, and Daniel Garcia, 57, are named in a federal indictment charging them with conspiring to possess and distribute oxycodone, an opioid pain medication, law enforcement sources say.

The three men were arrested by DEA agents and NYPD detectives on Thursday.

Taylor, a pain management specialist, is accused of writing thousands of prescriptions for oxycodone without conducting physical examinations, according to sources.

Gallicchio allegedly directed “fake” patients to Dr. Taylor and distributing the drugs, authorities say.

Each of the defendants face 20 years in prison if convicted.

Back in April, doctors and nurses at three clinics in Brooklyn were arrested, and earlier this month a Manhattan doctor was charged with illegally distributing pills. The arrests are part of a multi-state crackdown on the opioid epidemic that has claimed thousands of lives nationwide. 

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