U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced the arrest of Kevin M. Whitman, a 27-year-old resident of Irondequoit, New York. Whitman faces charges related to distributing and dispensing controlled substances, using another person's registration number to obtain controlled substances, and obtaining these substances through fraud. The potential penalties include up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean C. Eldridge is prosecuting the case. Eldridge noted that Whitman is not licensed as a physician in New York or elsewhere in the United States and lacks a DEA Registration Number for issuing prescriptions. According to the criminal complaint, between August 2023 and April 2025, Whitman falsely claimed to be a medical doctor and used a DEA Registration Number from Strong Memorial Hospital without authorization. He issued 177 prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances to nine individuals, totaling 38,067 dosage units, with 173 prescriptions being for oxycodone.
Whitman is not affiliated with Strong Memorial Hospital nor did he graduate from the University of Rochester Medical School. He holds no professional licenses in New York State for practicing medicine or prescribing controlled substances. A search of his residence revealed a fake diploma allegedly from the University of Rochester Medical School.
Whitman appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen this morning and was released under certain conditions.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration led by Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino of the New York Field Division; the U.S. Department Health of Human Services' Office of Inspector General under Special Agent-in-Charge Naomi Gruchacz; and the New York State Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit directed by Attorney General Letitia James. Additional support came from the University of Rochester Department of Public Safety, New York State Police, and Brighton Police Department.
It is important to note that charges are accusations at this stage, and Whitman is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
