A Middletown doctor recently pleaded guilty to charges for distribution of oxycodone, as well as the unlawful practice of medicine, after he was indicted for allegedly using another doctor’s name to write fraudulent prescriptions for the painkiller oxycodone.
The doctor in question, 53-year-old Middletown resident Kenneth Lewandowski, operated a pain management practice in Red Bank before his license to practice medicine was suspended in November of 2014. Shortly thereafter, Lewandowski is said to have acquired prescription blank pads from another doctor, some of which he provided to his office manager, 51-year-old Middletown resident Thomas Menendez. Menendez, who was also charged in connection with this case, allegedly sold the prescription blanks to former patients.
During his recent appearance in Monmouth County Superior Court, Lewandowski admitted to also forging prescriptions in the other doctor’s name, providing 4 former patients with 120 oxycodone pills each. He pleaded guilty to distribution of oxycodone, as well as the unlawful practice of medicine, and will receive his sentence on April 15th.
In exchange for his guilty plea, the State will recommend a sentence of 6 years in New Jersey State Prison in connection with the charges for oxycodone distribution and 3 years to be served concurrently for unlawful practice of medicine. A concurrent sentence will allow Lewandowski to serve both sentences at the same time, meaning his total prison term will amount to 6 years, as opposed to the 15-year maximum sentence to which he may have been exposed if he took his case to trial and was convicted.
As for Lewandowski’s office manager, Thomas Menendez has been charged with conspiracy, unlawful practice of medicine, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, and forgery. Menendez is accused of conspiring with Lewandowski, utilizing old patient files from his former practice to identify potential buyers who would be interested in purchasing forged oxycodone prescriptions for between $300 and $400. Whether Menendez is offered a plea agreement, accepts said agreement, or proceeds to trial, remains to be seen.
For additional information related to this case, access the following article: Doctor admits forging prescriptions