TRENTON – A doctor who admitted writing illegal prescriptions for oxycodone was sentenced Monday, July 29, to 57 months in prison for participating in a conspiracy to distribute the medication illegally, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Jacqueline Lopresti, 52, of Fair Haven, previously pleaded guilty before federal court Judge Freda L. Wolfson in Trenton to one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.
Lopresti is the second doctor convicted in connection with a large oxycodone distribution conspiracy. During the week of July 22, Dr. Hassan Lahham was sentenced to 108 months in prison by Wolfson in connection with his involvement in the same scheme. In addition, two co-defendants, Christopher Erwin, 49, of Barnegat, and Stephen Sampson, 52, of Manahawkin, were sentenced by Wolfson to 188 months and 96 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in the conspiracy.
In total, 28 people have been charged and convicted in this oxycodone distribution conspiracy.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Oxycodone is the active ingredient in brand name pills such as Oxycontin, Roxicodone and Percocet. It is a Schedule II controlled substance – meaning that it has a high potential for abuse, a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions, and abuse of the drug may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
In 2009, Lopresti issued prescriptions to co-conspirators for drugs containing oxycodone outside the usual course of medical practice and not for any legitimate medical purpose. The prescriptions were filled at various pharmacies located in and around Monmouth, Ocean, and Atlantic counties and redistributed by others.
