BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Lawyer Trini E. Ross introduced right this moment that Michael Ostolski, 55, of North Tonawanda, NY, was arrested and charged by felony criticism with conspiracy to distribute oxymorphone. The cost carries a most penalty of 20 years in jail and a $1,000,000 high-quality.
Assistant U.S. Lawyer Michael J. Adler, who’s dealing with the case, said that Ostolski is a nurse practitioner working at Acacia Household Well being in Lockport, NY, and is permitted to prescribe and dispense managed substances. Based on the criticism, Ostolski over-prescribed oxymorphone dosage items to pick out people who have been sufferers, who then agreed to promote all or a portion of the prescribed capsules for a monetary revenue. The sufferers have been anticipated to provide Ostolski the earnings from the sale throughout their subsequent workplace go to. The workplace visits have been being billed to insurance coverage together with Medicare and Medicaid. Information from the New York State Division of Well being Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement exhibits that between August 2021, and September 2023, Ostolski prescribed his co-conspirator sufferers collectively roughly 123 managed substance prescriptions of oxymorphone, totaling in extra of 13,000 oxymorphone capsules.
Throughout the course of the investigation, investigators carried out a number of managed purchases of oxymorphone from Ostolski, and a number of managed workplace visits with Ostolski, throughout which he acquired money funds.
Ostolski made an preliminary look earlier than U.S. Justice of the Peace Decide Michael J. Roemer and was launched on situations.
The criticism is the results of an investigation by the next regulation enforcement businesses: Drug Enforcement Administration Buffalo District Workplace; New York State Lawyer Common’s Workplace; New York State Division of Well being Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement; Lockport Police Division; Lockport Police Division QRT; New York State Police; Buffalo Police Division; Niagara Falls Police Division; New York State Division of Corrections and Group Supervision; Immigration, Customs Enforcement ERO; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosions
Sufferers receiving therapy at this apply who want a brand new medical supplier have a number of choices. People searching for entry to main care or ache administration service can discover a supplier via a neighborhood Federal Certified Well being Middle which can be situated right here: https://www.chcanys.org/find-health-center, Sufferers with insurance coverage might contact their medical insurance firm. Those that are scuffling with their consumption of opioids in Western New York can name this hotline 716-463-6222 at NYMATTERS or name the OASAS 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or texting HOPENY (467369).
The New York State Division of Well being needs to reassure practitioners that they won’t be topic to heightened scrutiny for his or her prescribing practices merely as a result of they deal with a few of these sufferers, nor merely as a result of their prescribing ranges might enhance because of their medically-necessary and acceptable therapy of those sufferers.
The truth that a defendant has been charged with against the law is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed harmless till and except confirmed responsible.
