Doctor indicted in NY painkillers case

WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Dave Lucas

Published December 15, 2012 at 6:35 AM EST

A doctor is accused in a federal indictment of illegally distributing tens of thousands of prescription painkillers.The Journal News says Rohan Wijetilaka of Upper Saddle River, N.J., was indicted this week in White Plains, N.Y. WAMC’s Dave Lucas has details.

The doctor is charged with health care fraud and illegal distribution of oxycodone.

His lawyer, Eric Sears, declined comment Friday.

Federal authorities raided the defendant's Yonkers, N.Y., cardiology office in July.

They say a patient-turned-informant wore a wire while paying cash for prescriptions for himself and his girlfriend, who wasn't there.

State records show the doctor’s New York license has been revoked and his New Jersey license has been suspended.

Hudson Valley News

Dave Lucas

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.

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