DEA agents raid offices of Baldwin doctor

Federal agents raided the office of a Baldwin doctor early Wednesday evening and carried out about a half-dozen boxes of records, the latest in a string of prescription drug investigations on Long Island.

At least eight agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration went into Dr. William Conway's office on 865 Merrick Rd. at about 5 p.m.

DEA spokeswoman Erin Mulvey declined to comment on what specifically the agents were looking for at Conway's office.

"We have an ongoing investigation into the diversion of oxycodone and other prescribed controlled substances on Long Island" by medical professionals, she said.

Conway was questioned for four hours by agents, who left without him. He was not arrested and declined to comment.

Agents also interviewed people at Conway's office as patients came and went.

"Dr. Conway's one of the most honest people I know," said patient Ellen Ramirez of Rockville Centre. "He took care of my mother when she was dying. He's a very good doctor, interested in helping people, not interested in making money."

Dorothea Kelly of Freeport said she has been going to Conway for 10 years and was "shocked": "He's a good doctor. I never even had medication from him."

Several patients declined to comment.

Wednesday's raid was the latest of several DEA actions against Long Island medical professionals in recent months.

It came the day after the DEA arrested Baldwin pharmacist Lutful Chowdhury, charged with conspiracy to illegally distribute large quantities of oxycodone and another powerful painkiller, fentanyl, between May 2006 and September 2011.

Chowdhury, who plans to challenge the charges, was released on bail on the condition that he not fill prescriptions for any controlled substances.

In December, Port Jefferson-based doctor Frank Telang pleaded not guilty to charges of selling painkillers for cash, weeks after the DEA raided his office, and Dr. Leonard Stambler of Baldwin Harbor, who allegedly sold painkiller prescriptions from his front porch, was indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.

Also that month, agents seized records from the Great Neck office of Dr. Eric Jacobson, who had prescribed thousands of pain pills to Medford pharmacy killer David Laffer and his wife, Melinda Brady. Jacobson denied wrongdoing and has not been charged, but his attorney said the DEA told the doctor that he's being investigated over the drug overdose deaths of at least two patients.