A Glen Head doctor and his son were charged with allegedly selling dozens of prescriptions for opioids, amphetamines, and benzodiazepines without a legitimate medical purpose.
In July 2022, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) tipline received several reports from pharmacists working at different pharmacies in Queens. These callers expressed concern regarding a suspicious number of opiate prescriptions and controlled substances written by Richard Taubman, a retired Great Neck obstetrician and gynecologist who returned to practice at a non-surgical weight loss center in Islandia in early 2022.
Following a preliminary investigation, Richard Taubman was stripped of his ability to prescribe controlled substances in August 2022.
The DEA and Nassau County District Attorney’s Office subsequently conducted an extensive, multi-year joint investigation that included multiple interviews, pharmacy record requests, and other evidence.
This investigation revealed that, between April 5, 2022, and June 29, 2022, Richard Taubman allegedly wrote dozens of prescriptions for controlled substances for multiple individuals without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the course of his practice. His son, Eric Taubman, allegedly acted as an intermediary by providing Richard Taubman with the personal information and medication requests of his friends and acquaintances.
According to the investigation, Richard Taubman allegedly issued those prescriptions without conducting medical evaluations and submitted them electronically from his home in Glen Head to various pharmacies throughout Queens.
Eric Taubman was allegedly paid by the individuals for the illegitimate prescriptions.
During this three-month period, Richard Taubman allegedly prescribed hundreds of pills to numerous individuals. These prescriptions consisted of oxycodone-acetaminophen (commonly known as Percocet), dextroamphetamine-amphetamine (commonly known as Adderall), and alprazolam (commonly known as Xanax).
The investigation also revealed that some individuals allegedly kept the prescriptions for personal use, sold the pills for profit, or traded the controlled substances for cash and drugs, such as marijuana.
Richard and Eric Taubman surrendered to NCDA detective investigators on April 30, 2026.
Richard, 71, and Eric Taubman, 33, were arraigned on April 30 before Judge William Bodkin on charges of 20 counts of Criminal Sale of a Prescription for a Controlled Substance or of a Controlled Substance by a Practitioner or Pharmacist (a Class C felony); three counts of Attempted Criminal Sale of a Prescription for a Controlled Substance or of a Controlled Substance by a Practitioner or Pharmacist (a Class D felony); and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (a Class E felony).
“Richard Taubman, and his son, Eric Taubman, allegedly operated a family-run distribution hub for controlled substances,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “By allegedly treating high-potency opioids, amphetamines, and benzodiazepines like casual favors for friends, these defendants demonstrated an unsettling disregard for the realities of the ongoing substance abuse crisis and betrayed the community’s trust. I want to thank the DEA for their tireless work in our joint investigation to shutter this operation. My office is committed to holding accountable any individual who chooses profit over the health and safety of others.”
“Today’s arraignment of Doctor Richard Taubman and his son, Eric, for their alleged scheme to unlawfully distribute controlled substance prescriptions, placing profits above public health, is not only reckless and dangerous, but unconscionable,” stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “Medical professionals are entrusted with protecting patients’ lives, not destroying them by exploiting them to addiction and harm. This type of behavior will never be tolerated. I commend the work of our DEA Long Island SPEAR team alongside the Nassau County District Attorney’s office, for pursuing those who drive and profit from the ongoing opioid crisis.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty and were released on their own recognizance. They are due back in court on May 7, 2026. If convicted, they will face up to 5-1/2 years in prison.