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Office of the District Attorney P. David Soares
Second ‘Operation Which Doctor’ Defendant Pleads Guilty ALBANY , NY – District Attorney P. David Soares today announced that AARON J. PETERSON, 30, of Delray Beach, FL pled guilty to (1) count of Criminal Diversion of Prescription Medications in the Second Degree before the Honorable Stephen W. Herrick. Under the agreement, PETERSON pled guilty to the Class “D” Felony in exchange for cooperation in the case against Signature Pharmacy. “Aaron Peterson is the second defendant to plead guilty in connection with ‘Operation Which Doctor’ and he will not be the last. As we have seen this week, steroids can have devastating effects on users and their families and the Office of the Albany County District Attorney will continue to prosecute those responsible for providing illegal narcotics and controlled substances to the people of this County,” stated DA Soares. The eight count indictment alleged that AJ PETERSON committed a criminal diversion act by selling prescriptions for drugs signed by an undercover investigator posing as a physician totaling in excess of $3,000. The indictment further alleged that PETERSON did knowingly and unlawfully attempt to sell multiple prescriptions for controlled substances in Albany County knowing that a physician never examined the customer. 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 PETERSON plea and will continue to prosecute all defendants involved in ‘Operation Which Doctor’. Sentencing for AARON J. PETERSON to be determined.
For further information contact: Heather Streeter Orth
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