A New York dentist has admitted to misrepresenting herself as one of her patients to fraudulently obtain oxycodone for her own use, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York.
Dr. Vivian Letizia, 63, of Stone Ridge, NY, pleaded guilty on April 13 to acquiring and obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, or subterfuge, according to the release.
In her plea, Letizia stated that on December 16, 2019, she fraudulently submitted a prescription for oxycodone using the name and date of birth of one of her dental patients. Then, Letizia reportedly obtained the oxycodone prescription from a pharmacy in Woodstock, NY, for her own consumption.
At the time, Letizia allegedly submitted the prescription to the pharmacy, knowing she was not treating the patient and that she planned to take the painkillers herself, according to the release.
By pleading guilty, Letizia agreed to surrender her New York State medical license and is prohibited from reapplying for a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration number. Without a DEA number, she will no longer be permitted to write prescriptions for controlled substances for legitimate medical purposes, according to the release.
Letizia is scheduled to be sentenced in August. She faces up to four years in prison, a supervised release term of up to one year, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Her dental practice in Woodstock, NY, is listed as permanently closed.
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