Florida Man Indicted In Narcotics E-Prescribing Scheme: Nassau DA

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — A Florida man was accused of commandeering the e-prescribing privileges of multiple doctors across the United States to issue thousands of narcotic prescriptions for controlled substances, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said Tuesday.

Devin Anthony Magarian, 21, of Kissimmee, Florida, was indicted on charges of one count of first-degree first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, one count of second-degree criminal diversion of prescription medication and prescriptions and 15 counts of fourth-degree criminal diversion of prescription medication and prescriptions.

Magarian faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. His remand was continued, and he is due back in court on April 23.

"Devin Magarian is a central player in a wide-ranging drug operation to hijack the e-prescribing credentials of doctors across the United States and use those fraudulently obtained accounts to issue and fill tens of thousands of prescriptions for dangerous narcotics including oxycodone," Donnelly said in a news release. "Our investigation into this alleged criminal conspiracy continues. We thank our partners in local and federal law enforcement as we pursue the case against this defendant and attempt to unravel this operation."

Magarian is represented by Douglas Rankin.

Rankin did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.

In February 2023, an unnamed defendant was arrested outside a Great Neck pharmacy after picking up two prescriptions that were not in his name, Donnelly said. Investigators said the unnamed defendant was in contact with Magarian.

Magarian is an alleged leader in an elaborate, multi-state conspiracy that has fraudulently compromised the e-prescribing credentials of doctors throughout the United States and then used those credentials to issue tens of thousands of prescriptions for narcotics across the country, prosecutors said. Magarian typically used the privileges to create prescriptions for oxycodone, and promethazine and codeine, a common cough syrup that is abused by drug users, authorities said.

Magarian's associates, or runners, picked up prescriptions at pharmacies in multiple states, officials said. The prescriptions were typically issued in fake names and sent to both chain and mom-and-pop pharmacies, the DA said.

Magarian operated a channel on Telegram, a mobile app, that served as an advertisement board, investigators said. Magarian let his customers know when the next round of prescriptions — via a compromised doctor’s e-prescribing privileges — was coming, so that they could place their orders, prosecutors said. Magarian referred to these moments as "portals," the DA said.

Customers messaged Magarian directly to purchase either prescriptions — which the customer would then be responsible for filling themselves — or actual controlled substances, including oxycodone, and promethazine and codeine, prosecutors said.

Magarian was arrested by members of the Nassau County Police Department in New York City on Jan. 17, officials said.

Magarian was in the New York area to receive approximately $14,000 from someone who was picking up prescriptions for oxycodone at Magarian's direction, investigators said. The money was compensation for seven prescriptions of oxycodone at 30 mg, each of which contained 90 tablets, for a total of 630 pills, Donnelly said.

The investigation is ongoing, the DA said.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Brian Rodriguez of the Narcotics, Firearms & Gangs Bureau.