Brooklyn's battle against the opioid epidemic took a decisive turn as Michael Kent, a key player in a large-scale pill mill operation, was sentenced to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to the charges of conspiring to distribute oxycodone. The sentencing came down from United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly and was made public on the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. Kent's operations, which ran between December 2018 and October 2022, were responsible for illegally distributing over 1.2 million oxycodone pills, valued at approximately $24 million on the streets.
As the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Breon Peace, highlighted the detrimental impact of these pill mills on communities by stating, “The opioid epidemic has destroyed countless families and communities in our district, New York City and across the country.” Peace outlined the magnitude of the crisis and the contribution of medical offices like Kent’s in fueling it. Kent also forfeited $635,875 ahead of his sentencing, a reflection of his scheme's illicit profits. Additionally, five of Kent's nine co-defendants have also entered guilty pleas, while the remaining are scheduled for trial in January 2025, according to an announcement by multiple federal agencies involved in the case.
Frank A. Tarentino, Special Agent in Charge at the DEA New York Division, condemned Kent's exploitation of the opioid crisis, emphasizing that “Michael Kent knew the harmful effects of his pill mill scheme, and knowingly jeopardize the health and safety of those individuals he profited from.” In a sentiment echoed by the partners in the investigation, Kent’s actions were deemed to have capitalized on human suffering for personal gain. His methods included recruiting sham patients, bribing pharmacists, and then laundering the proceeds through a shell company disguised as “Michael’s Cleaning Service.”
Moreover, an assessment of the danger posed by the drugs involved in Kent's operation points to a grim reality. Oxycodone, a drug used to manage severe pain, sits at the heart of American substance abuse issues. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) documented over 14,000 deaths due to prescription opioid overdoses in 2022 alone. The high street price of oxycodone, which can reach up between $20 to $30 per tablet in New York City, underscores the heavy financial incentive behind a such an illegal enterprise.
The case, managed by the Office’s Public Integrity Section, was seen through by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Zuckerwise, Victor Zapana, and Gilbert Rein, with Claire Kedeshian handling forfeiture matters. The collaborative approach adopted by federal agencies reflects a commitment to dismantling high-level criminal organizations in the hopes of curbing the opioid crisis that continues to affect the lives of so many across the nation.
