What Happened
Marc Laruelle, 65, a licensed psychiatrist from Yonkers, New York, pleaded guilty in October 2022 in federal court to one count of distributing oxycodone, amphetamines and Xanax without a legitimate medical purpose. According to the indictment and plea agreement, between about September 2016 and October 2021 he prescribed more than 100,000 doses of oxycodone outside the usual course of professional practice, often combined with Xanax or Adderall. He failed to perform proper physical examinations or medical tests, and charged patients as much as $800 per prescription. The offense carries a maximum of 20 years in prison, and sentencing was scheduled for January 26, 2023.
“prescribed more than 100,000 doses of Oxycodone without a legitimate medical purpose outside of the usual course of professional practice”
Related Guidance
- 15 Red Flags of Drug Diversion — Behavioral and transactional indicators of diversion.
- Investigation Playbook — How to investigate suspected diversion inside an organization.