RVC Doc Sentenced in Painkiller Pills Scam

A Cold Spring Harbor doctor with an office on North Village Avenue was sentenced to three years probation after he was arrested for selling painkiller prescriptions to an undercover RVC police detective without performing any medical examination.

Dr. Martin Roginsky, 82, of Cold Spring Harbor, made an estimated $261K by selling phony prescriptions for Oxycodone and other painkillers. He pleaded guilty in February to fourth-degree criminal diversion of prescription medication and prescriptions, a Class A misdemeanor.

A spokesman for the district attorney’s office said in addition to probation, Roginsky had to surrender his medical license and pay $93,000 in restitution.

According to Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice, the Rockville Centre Police Department and the DA's Office began an undercover investigation into Roginsky after they received a tip in April 2011 that he was selling prescriptions for addictive, opiate-based painkillers like Oxycontin, Oxycodone and Roxycodone from his Rockville Centre office located at 2000 N. Village Ave.

An undercover Rockville Centre detective who claimed he was experiencing back and hand pain after falling off a roof, obtained four prescriptions for Oxycodone and Roxycodone for $225 in cash. At no point did Roginsky conduct any medical examination on the undercover detective. It is estimated that Roginsky took in more than $261,000 by selling prescriptions. The street value of the pills is estimated to be between $10 million and $15 million.