Prosecutor Coronato stated, “No one wakes up and suddenly decides today I’m doing heroin. Abuse of prescription pills is the precursor to a life of dangerous street level drug addiction. It’s only a matter of time before an addicted person’s habit pushes them from high priced pills to cheap street heroin. Today, I include health care professionals in my warning to dealers who prey on those fighting this tragic disease – We are looking for you.”

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Southern Enforcement Group, with help from NJ Division of Consumers Affairs’ Enforcement Bureau, the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Camden Office, and the Stafford Police Department, conducted the investigation into Dr. Holca regarding the fraudulent issuance of prescription pain medications. It is alleged that between July 2013 and August 2013, New Jersey State licensed physician, Dr. Liviu T. Holca, while operating a medical practice at 1137 Beacon Ave. Manahawkin, NJ, prescribed quantities of Percocet and Xanax for no legitimate medical purpose. The Southern Enforcement group conducted eight undercover operations where Dr. Holca allegedly dispensed scheduled narcotic medications while not acting in the usual course of his professional practice.

Based on the investigation, the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor charged Dr. Holca with 2nd Degree Distribution of Percocet (schedule II narcotic) in an amount of more than one ounce without any medical necessity, 3rd Degree Distribution of Xanax (schedule IV narcotic) in an amount of more than one ounce without any medical necessity, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Firearms During Commission of a CDS Offense, and 2nd Degree Financial Facilitation (Money Laundering).

During the execution of a court authorized search warrant at Dr. Holca’s residence, law enforcement officers recovered several loaded firearms, a quantity of a suspected controlled dangerous substances and a significant amount of cash.

Dr. Holca will be housed in the Ocean County Jail pending a bail determination. This investigation continues and the criminal case will be prosecuted by Ocean County Senior Assistant Prosecutor Michael Abatemarco. The matter also has been referred to the State Office of the Attorney General for possible action regarding Dr. Holca’s medical license and his Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS) registration. Dr. Holca has surrendered his DEA license to prescribe controlled substances.

A civil forfeiture complaint and other legal documents were filed today by Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Marc E. Roessler. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office is seeking title to the medical office building where these alleged illegal acts took place and the cash recovered at his residence.

Despite these charges, the defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.

This article, The Dr. Is Out: Manahawkin Doctor’s Office Raided After Doctor Caught Illegally Prescribing Narcotics, is syndicated from Ocean County Signal and is posted here with permission.