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NEWARK
– A physician who maintains an office
in Fort Lee is under arrest for illegal
distribution of prescription pain killers
and money laundering following a joint investigation
conducted by the Division of Consumer Affairs’
Enforcement Bureau and the Fort Lee Police
Department.
People
from as far away as southern New Jersey
allegedly came to Dr. Michael Chung Kay
Lam, 44, to buy prescriptions for pain killers
containing Oxycodone.
Fort
Lee Police yesterday arrested Dr. Lam and
charged him with four counts of distributing
a Controlled Dangerous Substance, a second-degree
crime, and one count of money laundering.
Police recovered $146,000 in cash from Dr.
Lam’s home in Englewood Cliffs after
obtaining a search warrant. The recovered
cash included money used by undercover investigators
to purchase prescriptions from Dr. Lam.
Dr.
Lam is being held in the Bergen County Jail
on $75,000 bail, with no 10% option.
“Illegal
use of prescription drugs threatens the
health, safety and welfare of the public,”
Attorney General Paula T. Dow said. “Law
enforcement agencies across the country
are focusing on prescription abuse and I
want to commend the Fort Lee Police Department
for working with our Enforcement Bureau
investigators to shut down a major source
of prescription pain killers.”
Fort
Lee Police Chief Thomas O. Ripoli stated
that his department had been aware of Dr.
Lam’s practices for months and that
he appreciates the Division of Consumer
Affairs’ cooperation in bringing this
investigation to a successful conclusion.
Undercover investigators purchased prescriptions
from Dr. Lam on four separate occasions
beginning in November. The prescriptions
were provided without a patient examination
being performed and without a medical need
for the prescription drug.
Dr.
Lam allegedly provided a prescription on
one occasion despite being told by the undercover
investigator that the pills would be provided
to other persons who had no valid medical
reason to take the pain killers.
Investigators
obtained prescriptions for 70 to 120 Roxicodone
15 mg and Percocet 10 mg tablets at a time.
Dr. Lam charged up to $500 for each prescription.
“Dr.
Lam, by his alleged actions, facilitated
the illegal use of prescription drugs. His
conduct violates professional standards
and we intend to hold him accountable for
his actions,” said Thomas R. Calcagni,
Acting Director of the Division of Consumer
Affairs.
The
State Board of Medical Examiners, which
licenses physicians in New Jersey, has been
informed of Dr. Lam’s arrest and will
consider disciplinary action against him.
Dr. Lam voluntarily surrendered his DEA
registration to prescribe Controlled Dangerous
Substances following his arrest.
The
investigation began based on information
provided by the New Jersey State Police.
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration
also provided assistance.
Dr.
Lam was initially licensed in New Jersey
in November 1998. Background information
about Dr. Lam can be found on the Division’s
Health Care Profile page, at www.njdoctorlist.com
.
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