Bucks Doctor Sentenced for Running Northeast Pill Mill

On Sept. 19, Dr. Christopher Vassalluzzo, 47, of New Hope, was sentenced to 34 months in prison for a conspiracy that illegally distributed millions of prescription controlled substance diet drugs.

According to an FBI news release, Vassalluzzo and others operated an office at 3000 Holme Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia that was, in fact, a “pill mill.”

In April, Vassalluzzo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, structuring, aggravated structuring, conspiracy to commit tax evasion, and tax evasion. Vassalluzzo’s illegal enterprise generated more than $5 million in cash, according to the FBI.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Anita Brody ordered Vassalluzzo to forfeit over $5 million, which will include proceeds from the sale of a beach home in New Jersey, a timeshare in Florida, and sale of his home in New Hope, as well as other assets. More than $1 million has been collected so far. Restitution was ordered in the amount of $1,066,000 to be paid to the IRS for taxes and interest that Vassalluzzo failed to pay from 2004 to 2009. Vassalluzzo also must complete three years supervised release, and pay a $1,000 special assessment.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Pamela Foa.