Criminal Law
NYC Doctor Pleads Guilty to Trading Opioid Prescriptions for Sex
NEW YORK — A New York City doctor pleaded guilty to prescribing opioids to his patients in exchange for sexual favors, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.
Joseph Santiamo, 65, of Staten Island, pleaded guilty during a video conference hearing to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey.
Santiamo owned and operated an internal medicine and geriatric care practice in Staten Island from Jan. 1, 2012, through May 3, 2018, NJ.com reported. According to the criminal complaint, Santiamo prescribed large amounts of oxycodone without a legitimate medical reason for the treatments.
