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New York Doctor Gets 10 Years For Illegally Distributing Painkillers

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A New York physician has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for illegally distributing painkillers, WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported.

New York Doctor Gets 10 Years For Illegally Distributing Painkillers

Dr. Leonard Stambler of Baldwin Harbor was convicted in October 2013 of conspiracy and distribution of oxycodone. He was convicted of providing prescriptions for hundreds of oxycodone pills for addicted patients who had no legitimate medical need for the painkillers. He drove the patients to pharmacies to have the prescriptions filled, then drove them to meetings with street dealers to exchange the pills for cash, Cornell reported.

Two patients testified at Dr. Stambler's trial, talking about Stambler's role in the drug transactions.

The sentencing follows last week's manslaughter conviction of a New York doctor in an overdose death.

Dr. Stan Li also was convicted of selling prescriptions to David Laffer. He is serving a life term after pleading guilty to killing four people during the pharmacy robbery for painkillers in June 2011.

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