ROCHESTER — A 51-year-old Lima man who was convicted of dispensing a controlled substance outside the scope of professional practice was sentenced to three years probation to include six months of home detention and 100 hours of community service by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank H. Sherman, who handled the case, stated that between October 2013 and March 2016, Jeffrey C. Leathersich was licensed as a Registered Physician Assistant under the laws of the State of New York and had a Drug Enforcement Administration Certificate of Registration. This authorized Leathersich to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances in connection with his practice located at New Genesis Center for Medical Weight Loss and Cosmetic Medicine on Monroe Avenue in Rochester. The defendant became a Physician Assistant in 1995, practiced cosmetic medicine since 2004 and, in 2010, also began practicing bariatric medicine.

Between October 2013 and December 2015, Leathersich maintained a social relationship with an individual identified as Patient A. During that time period, the defendant provided Patient A with 16 prescriptions for oxycodone, totaling approximately 30 grams, outside the scope of his professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. Between July 2015 and March 2016, the defendant maintained a social relationship with a second individual identified as Patient B. During that time period, Leathersich provided Patient B with nine prescriptions for oxycodone, totaling approximately 26 grams, outside the scope of his professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. Oxycodone is an opioid pain medication.  As a narcotic with a high potential for abuse that may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence, oxycodone is listed by the Attorney General as a Schedule II controlled substance.

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division.

from US Dept. of Justice via IFTTT