The former director of the pharmacy at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for stealing about $58,000 worth of cancer-fighting drugs and other prescription medicines and selling them for cash, Federal prosecutors said.
He was employed by the hospital pharmacy from 1968 until his arrest, pleaded guilty to distributing wholesale prescription drugs without a license.
A former pharmacy school classmate arranged to buy drugs and recorded telephone conversations, according to court papers. In sentencing, Judge Allen G. Schwartz of United States District Court in Manhattan said that Mr. harry Morelli had abused his position of trust with the hospital.
Gerald B. Appel, director of clinical nephrology, wrote: ''In the 20 years I have known Mr. Morelli, I have never seen any part of his character that is not upstanding and honorable. I can say that my colleagues feel the same way about Mr. Morelli.''
In addition to being sentenced to prison, fined $30,000, pay $58,500 in restitution and gave up his license. [Summery.. NYT
No comments:
Post a Comment