Below Deck, famed as a popular reality TV franchise with spin-offs like Below Deck Sailing Yacht, has become the target of a real life crime scandal.
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And investigators allege a doctor and his wife exploited their time on Below Deck to steal cast members’ identities in order to write bogus prescriptions for oxycodone.
But the scandal doesn’t end there. Because the doctor’s wife, as revealed below, came up with a shocking defense!
Below Deck Spoilers – Doctor Steals Crews’ Identities For Drugs
A physician and his wife recently appeared on the popular Bravo reality show Below Deck as guests. But during their time relaxing on the yacht, Dr. Francis Martinis, a urologist in Fort Salonga, and his wife Jessica allegedly stole the identities of crew members. And they did so in order to illegally get prescription drugs, claim law enforcement officials via MSN.
But investigators didn’t discover the alleged scheme until the physician’s wife headed to a pharmacy in Kings Park with a handwritten prescription. And that prompted a pharmacist to call the police.
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As a a result, investigators now believe that Jessica’s oxycodone prescription represented just part of the couple’s alleged plot for getting oxycodone illegally. And they claim to have discovered evidence of how the urologist and his wife exploited the personal information of Below Deck cast members for the bogus prescriptions.
Below Deck Spoilers – Stars Charged With 8 Felony Counts
However, the physician and his wife entered not guilty pleas on Long Island to the charges of stealing Below Deck cast members’ identities to get oxycodone.
But officials charged the couple in an eight-count indictment. Those charges included multiple felony counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance by a practitioner and falsifying business records.
But the couple did get released on their own recognizance. And their lawyer claimed their innocence. “Evidence will show the charges are bogus and cannot be substantiated,” stated attorney Peter Crusco.
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However, the investigation revealed that the doctor sent dozens of prescriptions for oxycodone to Suffolk County pharmacies amid a two-year period.
And law enforcement officials described many of those prescriptions as fake, using the names of two Below Deck cast members. However, the alleged plot involved Jessica picking up the prescriptions and paying cash.
Below Deck Spoilers – Doctor In Sea Of Trouble
But the district attorney issued a warning. “Doctors are supposed to be trusted members of the community. And with that trust comes a tremendous amount of personal and professional responsibility,” cautioned Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney. “Physicians are held to a high standard.” And the DA added, “The conduct Dr. Martinis allegedly engaged in with his wife not only violated this oath. But it also violated the law.”
However, investigators have not yet stated if they suspect the couple of reselling the drugs, using them, or both. But Jessica claimed in her defense that the drugs were “all for us!” And both she and her husband allegedly claimed to suffer from substance abuse problems.
But former New York Homeland Security Director Michael Balboni noted, “He abused the celebrity position that he had on that ship to take the identities of his crew members.” And the physician allegedly then used those identities “to buy drugs. That is a common scheme for a common criminal.”
Below Deck Spoilers – ‘All Hands On Deck’ Approach To Drugs
But the doctor actually appeared multiple times on Below Deck. For instance, Dr. Martinis and Jessica joined a group of guests who chartered Sirocco, a luxury yacht featured in Below Deck Mediterranean.
And he also appeared on the Below Deck spin-off, Below Deck Sailing Yacht, the following year. The couple even went to promotional events with other Below Deck stars.
“The DEA is rooted in an ‘all hands on deck’ approach to save lives from illegal drug misuse and abuse through enforcement, education, and prevention,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “We identified two individuals who brazenly diverted controlled substances intended for medicinal purposes to the illegal drug market. 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.”
Tell us what you think. How do you feel about the drug allegations? And after you share your views, check back on our site for more reality TV news.