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Office of the District Attorney P. David Soares Guilty Pleas in ‘Which Doctor’ Case Net $20,000 for Albany County ALBANY , NY – District Attorney P. David Soares today announced that GREG TROTTA, 38, of Delray Beach, FL and BRIAN SCHAFLER, 34, of Delray Beach, FL plead guilty to (1) count of Criminal Diversion of a Prescription and Prescription Medications in the 3rd Degree before the Honorable Stephen Herrick. Under the agreement, TROTTA and SCHAFLER pled guilty to the Class “E” Felony and each agreed to pay $10,000 in restitution in exchange for full cooperation in the case against Signature Pharmacy. TROTTA and SCHAFLER both face a maximum of 4 years in prison. “The two guilty pleas today are the fifth and sixth in the Operation Which Doctor case and the first of many to result in restitution for the County of Albany,” commented DA Soares. “I am pleased to let the people of this County know that the monies received today exceed the expenses associated with this investigation to date, and we will continue to prosecute all those who illegally distribute narcotics and controlled substances to Albany citizens.” Between January 1, 2006 and December 1, 2006, TROTTA and SCHAFLER did commit a Criminal Diversion Act by transferring prescriptions worth in excess of $1,000 signed by Dr. Brandwein and filled by Signature Pharmacy knowing the patients had no medical need for the medication. In New York State, a doctor may not prescribe a drug unless they conduct a face-to-face diagnostic examination of the patient, and a pharmacy may not dispense a prescription drug without a valid prescription. ADA Chris Baynes from the Financial Crimes Unit handled the TROTTA and SCHAFLER pleas and will continue to prosecute all defendants involved in ‘Operation Which Doctor’. GREG TROTTA and BRIAN SCHAFLER are scheduled to appear in court again on June 27, 2007. # # # For further information contact: Heather Streeter Orth
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