NJ's 'Candy Man' Doc Indicted For Prescribing Drugs For No Reason

OAKLAND, NJ — A doctor and self-described "El Chapo of opioids" has been indicted on charges related to him prescribing drugs to people without a legitimate medical reason, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Dr. Robert Delagente, 45, of Oakland was indicted Friday on three counts of distribution of controlled dangerous substances, conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances, and falsifying medical records, Carpenito said. Delagente was not arraigned on the charges yet.

Delagente faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million for each of the distribution of a controlled dangerous substance charges, and another 20 years and a $250,000 fine on the falsifying medical records charge, Carpenito said.

Delagente prescribed painkillers, including oxycodone, Percocet, Tylenol with codeine, and various kinds of benzodiazepines without a legitimate medical purpose and in combination with one another while a doctor at North Jersey Family Medicine in Oakland beginning in May 2014, Carpenito said in May when authorities charged Delagente.

Delagente prescribed the substances without ever seeing patients for medical visits and to patients he knew were addicted to opioids, Carpenito previously said. (Related: Oakland's 'Candy Man' Prescribed Drugs For No Reason: US Attorney)

He also allowed patients to ask him for substances through text messages; Delagente would write prescriptions and leave them at the practice's front desk for the patients to pick up, Carpenito previously said.

A patient once texted Delagente that they "probably can't stop the pk's [painkillers]." A few days later, when the patient could not get pain medication, they wrote to Delagante, "If I go four days without [painkillers] I am in huge trouble." In response, Delagente wrote, "I will leave you a short supply RX [prescription] at the front to pick up," authorities said previously.

An employee once texted Delagente that a patient drove a long way to the practice and could not see a doctor, Carpentio said. Delagente responded, "Oh well … C'est la vie! Lol … He can wait for his oral heroin another day. Lol."

Delagente allowed patients to determine the strength and dosage of the drugs he prescribed, Carpenito said in May. He prescribed the dangerous "Holy Trinity" of drugs in combination: opioids, muscle relaxers, and benzodiazepines, usually alprazolam, he said.

Delagente was also originally charged with obstruction of justice. He was accused of altering medical records of patients who received controlled substance prescriptions. He is accused of making the changes after officials subpoenaed the records in April, Carpenito said in May.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com