On Tuesday, June 11, 2024, Dr. Evangelos Megariotis, a 72-year-old orthopedic surgeon from New Jersey, admitted to multiple counts of illegally prescribing pain medication in a federal court in Newark.
The guilty plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti, involving seven counts from a 34-count indictment against Megariotis.
The charges specified his dispensation of Oxycodone, Oxycontin, and Oxycodone-Acetaminophen to five patients, allegedly outside the usual course of professional practice and without legitimate medical necessity.
According to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger, documents filed in the case and statements made in court, from March 2017 through November 2017, Megariotis purportedly prescribed the aforementioned controlled substances to patients without appropriate medical justification.
Oxycodone, Oxycontin, and Oxycodone-Acetaminophen are classified as Schedule II controlled substances due to their high potential for abuse, leading to severe dependence and potentially fatal overdoses.
Megariotis now faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison along with a fine of up to $1 million. Sentencing for the case is scheduled for October 15, 2024.
In acknowledging the investigation leading to Megariotis’s guilty plea, R. Sellinger credited the efforts of special agents, diversion investigators, and task force officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division, operating under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz.
The case against Megariotis underscores the seriousness with which authorities approach illegal prescription practices, particularly concerning substances with a high risk of abuse and dependency.
Megariotis’s plea serves as a reminder of the legal and ethical responsibilities entrusted to medical professionals in prescribing controlled substances and the consequences for breaching those responsibilities.
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