A federal jury in Central Islip returned a guilty verdict today against Roya Jafari-Hassad, a medical doctor with a practice in Great Neck, Long Island, on eight counts of a second superseding indictment charging her with prescribing oxycodone pills without a legitimate medical purpose. The verdict followed a 10-day trial before United States District Judge Gary R. Brown. When sentenced, Dr. Jafari-Hassad faces up to 20 years in prison on each count. The defendant was acquitted of witness tampering charges.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Frank A Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA) and Naomi Gruchacz, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General’s Office of Investigations, New York Region (HHS-OIG), announced the verdict.
“As proven, Dr. Hassad was a drug dealer who disgracefully dispensed highly addictive oxycodone pills without any regard for the well-being of the patient but with plenty of interest in their cash,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Corrupt doctors like this defendant, who value greed over their oath to do no harm, fuel the opioid epidemic and my Office is committed to holding them accountable for the incalculable harm they have caused.”
“Dr. Roya Jafari-Hassad knowingly prescribed opioids without cause, and with a possible life of addiction. Dr Jafari-Hassad knew the harmful effects opioids could have on and not only jeopardized their health, but the patient’s future as well.” stated DEA New York Special Agent in Charge Tarentino. “Today, the jury recognized her actions of putting profit and greed over her oath to protect the health and safety of her patients, all while exacerbating the opioid crisis.”
“The defendant convicted in this case is a physician who knowingly prescribed controlled substances illegally, which is especially egregious given the ongoing opioid epidemic,” stated HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Gruchacz. “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure individuals involved in schemes that threaten patient safety are held accountable.”
Oxycodone is a scheduled controlled substance that may be dispensed by medical professionals only for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of a doctor’s professional practice. It is a powerful and highly addictive drug and is frequently abused because of its potency when crushed into a powder and ingested, leading to a heroin-like euphoria.
As proven at trial, Dr. Hassad charged hundreds of dollars in cash in exchange for a monthly oxycodone prescription which had no legitimate medical purpose. In the spring of 2021, law enforcement opened an investigation into Dr. Hassad’s conduct. Over nine months and 10 appointments that were tape-recorded, Dr. Hassad gave an undercover detective, who claimed he had pain, ten prescriptions for oxycodone totaling hundreds of oxycodone pills for which he paid thousands of dollars in cash. Dr. Hassad typically charged about $350 for a 15-day supply of oxycodone and about $700 for a 30-day supply of oxycodone.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles P. Kelly and Katherine Onyshko are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Samantha Schroder.
The Defendant:
ROYA JAFARI-HASSAD
Age: 58
Bayside, Queens
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-545(S-2) (GRB)
