Doctor and Wife from Reality Show Arrested for Bogus Prescriptions
New York - A doctor and his wife who appeared on the Bravo reality series "Below Deck" were arraigned in New York on Thursday on charges that they filled out bogus opioid prescriptions using the names of cast members from the show.
Urologist Francis Martinis and his wife, Jessica Martinis, of Fort Salonga, New York, were each charged with criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance by a practitioner and falsifying business records.
They appeared in state court in Riverhead on Long Island after first being arrested in May. Both pleaded not guilty, according to their attorney. The couple were released without bail and are due back in court Jan. 25.
"Below Deck," which premiered on Bravo in 2013, follows crew members and the passengers they cater to aboard a luxury yacht.
The Martinises appeared on the spinoff "Below Deck Mediterranean" in 2019. Francis Martinis also appeared on "Below Deck Sailing Yacht" the following year.
The couple's attorney, Peter Crusco, called the charges bogus.
"My clients have pled not guilty and are presumed innocent, and look forward to their day in court to clear their names," Crusco said in a text message.
Doctor and Wife Arrested for Prescription Fraud
Prosecutors have announced the arrest of Francis Martinis, a 55-year-old doctor, and his wife Jessica Martinis, 38, for their involvement in a prescription fraud scheme. According to authorities, Francis transmitted prescriptions for oxycodone to Long Island pharmacies using the names of cast members from the reality show "Below Deck" as fake patients. Jessica would then pick up the drugs and pay in cash.
The investigation began when Jessica attempted to fill a handwritten prescription for oxycodone in someone else's name earlier this year. This raised red flags and led to a deeper investigation into the couple's activities.
Authorities discovered numerous fake oxycodone prescriptions written by Francis, none of which were intended for the people named in the prescriptions. "Physicians are held to a high standard, as they take an oath to uphold a number of professional ethical standards when they begin their careers," said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney. "The conduct Dr. Martinis allegedly engaged in with his wife not only violated this oath, but it also violated the law."
The federal Drug Enforcement Agency's special agent in charge for New York, Frank Tarentino, emphasized the potential harm caused by a doctor's illicit drug diversion. "These arrests are a reminder that a doctor's illicit drug diversion can lead to irreparable harm like the drug overdoses and poisonings currently plaguing our nation," he said.
The couple's actions have not only violated ethical standards but also the law. They now face charges related to prescription fraud and drug diversion. A representative for NBCUniversal, the parent company of Bravo, declined to comment on the matter.
