VALLEY STREAM, N.Y. (1010 WINS) — A Long Island dentist faces jail time for writing prescription drugs to female clients in exchange for sex, the Department of Justice announced Thursday.
Dr. Barry Arnold, who has an office in Valley Stream, New York, was arrested Wednesday and faces charges for writing illegal prescriptions to women for oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, and alprazolam (“Xanax”), a Schedule IV controlled substance, in exchange for sex acts.
“As alleged, Dr. Arnold abused his position as a dentist and preyed upon vulnerable, drug-addicted women, trading prescriptions for sex acts,” said U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn M. Kasulis. “We are committed to [the] vigorous prosecution of medical professionals who abdicate their Hippocratic Oath and contribute to the rise of drug abuse and addiction in our communities."
Court documents show that between October 2016 and August 2020, the 70-year-old "allegedly prescribed oxycodone, Percocet and Xanax to numerous drug-addicted victims in exchange for sex acts" at his old office in Lynbrook, New York and his current office — after business hours.
“It’s alleged that Dr. Arnold took advantage of vulnerable, addicted women for his own benefit. He is ethically and legally responsible for every prescription, but he broke his oath with his alleged misconduct, and he is really no different than a street dealer,” said Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent-in-Charge for Homeland Security Investigations. “HSI’s continued partnership with the DEA will ensure that drug-dealing dentists are arrested for their criminal acts.”
If convicted, Arnold faces up to 20 years in prison.