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Office of the District Attorney P. David Soares ALBANY, NY – Albany County District Attorney P. David Soares announced today that DAVID W. STEPHENSON, MD of Rome, NY has been sentenced to six years in state prison by the Honorable Stephen W. Herrick.. STEPHENSON had earlier pled guilty to one count of the Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance. District Attorney Soares emphasized the importance of this arrest. “This sentencing concludes the first successful prosecution of a physician for the sale of narcotics over the internet in the history of New York State. We have all seen the revelations of the abuse of illegal drugs in major league sports and it is now clear that the fastest growing component of the illegal drug trade is the abuse of prescription drugs. We all need to recognize that in the age of the internet, the new street corner is on the information highway.” STEPHENSON had been accused of running a website through which anyone with a credit card could purchase a broad range of drugs. Specifically the indictment alleged that STEPHENSON illegally sold the stimulant Methylin, the narcotic preparation Hydrocodone, the controlled substance Nandralone and more than 360 milligrams of Methadone. STEPHENSON pled guilty to the illegal sale of methadone. Methylin is generic form of ritilin and it is popular with students who use it to stay up to cram for exams, etc. Hydrocodone is a generic form of lortabs, a powerful synthetic pain killer. Nandralone is an anabolic steroid popular with body builders and banned by most major competitive sports. And methadone is a synthetic morphine substitute used in prescription form for the treatment of herion abuse. Abuse of these drugs can cause long term health problems and death. Methadone can result in death through overdose and is addictive. Ritilin is also addictive. The sentencing concludes an investigation involving the NYS Health Department, the District Attorney’s Economic Crimes Bureau and the Colonie Police Department. The websites operated by the defendant have been shut down. In New York State, a Doctor may not prescribe a drug unless he conducts a face-to-face diagnostic examination of the patient and a pharmacy may not dispense a prescription drug without a prescription. In addition to the 6 year sentence, STEPHENSON has forfeited his license to practice medicine. Back to Press Releases For further information contact: Rachel McEneny
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