Press Release

For Immediate Release:
November 18, 2013

Office of The Attorney General
John J. Hoffman, Acting Attorney General

Division of Consumer Affairs
Eric T. Kanefsky, Director

Division of Law
Christopher S. Porrino Director
  For Further Information and Media Inquiries:
Jeff Lamm
Neal Buccino
(973) 504-6327

Three N.J. Pharmacists Surrender Their Licenses Amid Pending Criminal Charges in Interstate Prescription Drug Distribution Ring

View Podell Interim Consent Order of License
View Hirsh Interim Consent Order of License
View Zaslow Interim Consent Order of License

NEWARK – The State Board of Pharmacy within the Division of Consumer Affairs has suspended the licenses of three pharmacists for their alleged participation in an illegal prescription drug distribution ring involving a pharmacy in Plainfield.

The multi-state investigation involving federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in New Jersey, New York and Florida, began with information developed by the Enforcement Bureau within the Division of Consumer Affairs, Acting Attorney John J. Hoffman noted.

The following pharmacists agreed to the temporary suspension of their licenses following their arrests on October 23:

  • Daniel Podell, 87, of Clark
  • Howard Hirsh, 61, of Cranbury
  • Lawrence Zaslow, 59, of Cherry Hill
  • The suspensions are indefinite, pending further action by the Board of Pharmacy following resolution of the pending criminal charges.

    "Illegal distribution and abuse of prescription drugs is a national health crisis. This investigation clearly shows how the enablers try to work across state lines to conceal their schemes. And just as clearly, we see how multi-state, multi-agency teamwork brought these defendants to justice," Acting Attorney General Hoffman said.

    The three pharmacists worked at the Plainfield Pharmacy, located at 603 West 4th Street in Plainfield. The pharmacy is owned by Lana Wiseberg, a Florida resident. Wiseberg surrendered the Controlled Dangerous Substances registration for the Plainfield Pharmacy and for the Santa Marina Pharmacy in Union City which she also owns.

    Investigators allege that pain management clinics in Florida provided prescriptions for painkillers such as oxycodone, hydromorphone and morphine sulfate to patients who had no legitimate medical need for painkillers. The patients were instructed to mail the prescriptions to the Plainfield Pharmacy, and also pharmacies in New York State, enclosing money orders for payment.

    Investigators allege that Podell, Hirsh and Zaslow filled prescriptions for hundreds of thousands of addictive painkillers knowing that the prescriptions were not for legitimate medical needs. Podell also allegedly arranged for the bulk shipment of these prescription medicines from distributors to the Plainfield Pharmacy.

    Investigators in the Consumer Affairs' Enforcement Bureau initiated the investigation following a routine inspection of the Plainfield Pharmacy, and expanded the scope of the investigation by reaching out to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for its assistance.

    "Our Enforcement Bureau investigators through their excellent work helped uncover an illegal scheme that crossed state lines and posed a clear danger to the public's health and safety. Through proactive educational outreach to the public, including the medical community, and aggressive enforcement actions such as this, the Division of Consumer Affairs is meeting this threat head on," said Eric T. Kanefsky, Division Director.

    Kanefsky in October filed actions seeking to strip 12 New Jersey doctors of their ability to prescribe Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS), including highly addictive painkillers. All but one of the 12 doctors were convicted in Federal or State courts, for criminal offenses related to their illegal prescribing of controlled substances. The remaining doctor's license was revoked by the State Board of Medical Examiners, due to a civil complaint in which the Attorney General alleged he indiscriminately prescribed CDS.

    For more information on the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs' initiative to halt the diversion and abuse of prescription drugs, view the Division's NJPMP website at www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov/pmp, and the Division's Project Medicine Drop website at www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov/meddrop.

    Follow the Division of Consumer Affairs on Facebook , and check our online calendar of upcoming Consumer Outreach events.

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    Last Modified: 3/3/2015 4:13 AM