Doctor, pharmacist are among three indicted in alleged N.J. drug-trafficking ring

HUDSON COUNTY — Three members of an alleged drug-trafficking ring — a doctor, a pharmacist and one other — were indicted Monday on charges that they distributed prescription painkillers across the state and defrauded Medicaid. The charges for Clifton Howell, 54, a doctor from West Orange practicing in Jersey City; pharmacist Amir Tadros, 33, of Jersey City; and the...

Office of the Attorney GeneralLeft to right, pharmacist Amir Tadros, doctor Clifton Howell and Louis Lisi have been indicted in an alleged drug-trafficking ring.

HUDSON COUNTY — Three members of an alleged drug-trafficking ring — a doctor, a pharmacist and one other — were indicted Monday on charges that they distributed prescription painkillers across the state and defrauded Medicaid.

The charges for Clifton Howell, 54, a doctor from West Orange practicing in Jersey City; pharmacist Amir Tadros, 33, of Jersey City; and the alleged ringleader Louis Lisi, 35, of Union City, include conspiracy, health-care claims fraud, forgery, money laundering and employing a juvenile in a drug distribution scheme.

The Attorney General's Office said Lisi, Howell and Tadros, along with 30 others, gathered thousands of OxyContin and Percocet pills each week and distributed them in Hudson, Bergen, Monmouth and Ocean counties from 2008 to early 2010.

Howell and another doctor allegedly supplied prescriptions for patients who were not examined or did not need the pills. Then the pharmacists, allegedly including Tadros, would fill the prescriptions in exchange for money. The doctors and pharmacists would then bill Medicaid for the pills and examinations.

“We are seeing more of these complex cases involving doctors and pharmacists who conspire with drug dealers to defraud Medicaid and supply street-level distribution rings,” said Division of Criminal Justice Director Stephen Taylor.

Lisi was also charged with leading a narcotics trafficking network and abusing or neglecting two children under his care.

Another ringleader, two other pharmacists and 28 street-level drug dealers have already pleaded guilty as a result of the ongoing investigation by the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Jersey City Police Department’s Special Investigation Unit. A second doctor, Magdy Elamir, 57, of Saddle Brook, was indicted in July.

“(It's) a problem that is increasing both statewide and nationwide,” said Jersey City Police Chief Thomas Comey.