‘Operation Dirty Feet’ Nabs Podiatrist Who Stole Samples of Medication, Sold Them to Unscrupulous Pharmacist

Woodmere man pleads guilty to 10 counts, including larceny and drug felonies; will serve a year in jail

MINEOLA, NY – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that Dr. Arthur Minkoff has pleaded guilty to stealing samples of medication from his Woodmere office and selling those medications to a South Shore pharmacist who would sell the pills to unsuspecting customers. Minkoff was promised a sentence of one year in jail in exchange for his pleas, and must forfeit $152,000 of criminal proceeds.

Minkoff, 54, of Woodmere, pleaded guilty to 10 counts, including Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree, Criminal Diversion of Prescription Medications and Prescriptions in the Second Degree, three counts of Criminal Diversion of Prescription Medications and Prescriptions in the Third Degree, and four counts of Criminal Diversion of Prescription Medications and Prescriptions in the Fourth Degree. He will be sentenced December 19.

Rice said that for the past eight years, Minkoff, a licensed podiatrist employed as a technician at a Woodmere medical office, would steal samples of medications one to two times each week. Minkoff would then take those samples and sell them to a pharmacist at a South Shore pharmacy. The pharmacist would gather the samples, put them into pill bottles and sell them to customers with no regard for sanitary conditions or the pills’ often-elapsed expiration dates.

Minkoff’s crimes were realized during a separate 2006 investigation by the District Attorney’s Office, Nassau County Police Department and the United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Agency into the South Shore pharmacy and its pharmacist for selling controlled substances without prescriptions and for forging prescriptions. It was discovered that the pharmacist was also purchasing sample pills to refill prescription bottles. The sample pills were left in a box on the floor of the pharmacy, and workers would sift through the box looking for additional pills when supplies ran low.

The pharmacist pleaded guilty to Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree and Forgery in the Second Degree. Prosecutors are withholding his identity pending his cooperation in additional criminal investigations.

Investigators traced the sample packs found at the pharmacy to the Woodmere medical office where Minkoff worked.

On March 9, 2008, hidden cameras were installed in the medical office, and revealed that Minkoff, who was not authorized to enter the prescription closet, entered the closet numerous times and stole large quantities of pills.

Rice said that between February 7 and April 29 of 2008, Minkoff stole approximately 9,000 pills treating ailments such as high cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis, heartburn, high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, and other ailments.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration prohibits the purchase, sale, or trade of prescription drug samples.

“Mr. Minkoff’s actions placed unsanitary and potentially expired medication into the hands of sick and suffering people,” Rice said. “This is an egregious betrayal of the public trust. What’s sickening is that Mr. Minkoff and this pharmacist are sworn to help patients and they are in positions that treat people in moments of extreme vulnerability.”

Assistant District Attorney Jane Zwirn-Turkin, of the DA’s Rackets Bureau, is handling the case for the District Attorney’s Office. Minkoff is being represented by Mel Roth, Esq.