RN Leyla Samadi Is Charged With Using 4 Forged Prescriptions to Obtain Percocet
Schneiderman: Those Who Illegally Obtain Prescription Drugs Will Be Prosecuted
AMHERST – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the arrest of Leyla Samadi, 53, a Registered Nurse, of Germantown, MD, for allegedly presenting four forged prescriptions to CVS Pharmacy, located at 9300 Transit Road in Amherst, in order to illegally obtain the narcotic medication Percocet.
“Healthcare professionals should understand better than anyone the repercussions that accompany prescription forgery and prescription drug abuse,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “My office will continue to root out and prosecute those who illegally obtain prescription drugs.”
In a case jointly investigated with the New York State Department of Health Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, Samadi was captured on video surveillance at CVS presenting a prescription for Percocet on December 27, 2014, January 1, 2015, January 6, 2015 and January 12, 2015, and taking possession of quantities of Percocet on each occasion. Each of the prescriptions was written in the name of one of Samadi’s two daughters, both of whom reside in Maryland. Two of the prescriptions were signed with the name of a certified midwife and two were signed with the name of a physician, neither of whom actually authorized, issued, or signed the prescriptions nor had a physician-patient relationship with either of Samadi’s daughters.
Samadi was charged with four counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, a class C felony, and four counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony. The top count class C felony charge carries a maximum prison term of fifteen years. Samadi was arraigned in Amherst Town Court before Honorable Geoffrey Klein and entered a plea of not guilty.
These charges come after the filing of a federal criminal complaint against Samadi by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York alleging that while working at Sisters of Charity Hospital in Buffalo, Samadi fraudulently obtained controlled substances by diverting narcotics from the hospital.
Attorney General Schneiderman wishes to thank the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement for its assistance, as well as the Food and Drug Administration, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, and the Department of Education Office of Professional Discipline for cooperating in the multi-agency investigation.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
The case was investigated by Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) Buffalo Regional Chief Investigator James Zablonski with assistance from MFCU Deputy Chief Investigator William Falk, and Special Auditor Investigator Sean McShea with assistance from Supervising Special Auditor Investigator Frank Zeffiro. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Thomas N. Schleif of the MFCU Buffalo Regional Office. Gary A. Baldauf is the Regional Director of the MFCU Buffalo Regional Office. Catherine Wagner is the Chief of Criminal Investigations-Upstate. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is led by Acting Director Amy Held. The Division of Criminal Justice is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General Kelly Donovan.