Connecticut Doctor Charged With Illegally Prescribing Oxycodone, Other Controlled Substances

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Ferguson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that DR. JOHN KATSETOS, 52, of Fairfield, was arrested yesterday on a charge that he exceeded the scope of his medical license to dispense controlled substances.

KATSETOS appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons in Bridgeport and was released on a $1 million bond.

As alleged in a criminal complaint, DR. KATSETOS has practiced medicine for more than 20 years, most recently out of offices located at 90 Morgan Street in Stamford and 353 Bridgeport Avenue in Milford.  KATSETOS operated as a general practitioner and was not a licensed as a pain specialist.  A long-term Drug Enforcement Administration investigation, which included the use of undercover law enforcement personnel, revealed that KATSETOS was writing prescriptions for large quantities of Schedules II, III, IV and V controlled substances outside the scope of legitimate medical practice.

The complaint further alleges that a vast majority of these prescriptions were for medications that contain oxycodone, and that KATSETOS prescribed oxycodone despite awareness that his patients were addicted, had been arrested for possessing and distributing controlled substances, or were not actually using oxycodone themselves.

The complaint charges KATSETOS with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, as offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $1 million.

U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with the assistance of the State of Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Drug Control Division, and several local police departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale and Alina Reynolds.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov