Doctor indicted on 12 counts of drug trafficking
By Kate York, kyork@mariettatimes.comThe Marietta doctor accused of writing hundreds of illegal drug prescriptions is facing nearly 45 years in prison after being indicted on 12 counts of drug trafficking by a Washington County Grand Jury.
The charges against Dr. Pedrito Galupo, 73, was one of 25 indictments handed down by the grand jury this week.
Galupo was arrested July 8 at his Harmar office at 119 Maple St., where officers say he had been selling prescriptions for $50 without examining patients.
"I could have indicted him for 100 counts," said Washington County Prosecutor Jim Schneider. "The 12 I picked were different days ranging from April 12 to June 17 on days where we actually sent undercover officers into the clinic. We sent law enforcement officers in with made-up names seeking drugs and evidently he wasn't doing any examination.... He wasn't doing anything other than taking $50 and writing a prescription."
Galupo, of 501 Fifth St., was indicted on seven fourth-degree felony counts, three second-degree felony counts and two third-degree felony counts of trafficking in drugs. The maximum sentences for the combined charges would be 44 1/2 years in prison, but some of the sentences would likely be served concurrently if Galupo is convicted.
The doctor, who has surrendered his medical license, may also face charges in Williams County in northwest Ohio, Schneider said. A search warrant was also executed at his former practice in Bryan.
"The state pharmacy board is still investigating that," he said. "We'll be meeting with them next week."
The Internal Revenue Service is also conducting an investigation of Galupo based on the information passed on from local investigators, Schneider said.
"He may be fully compliant with the IRS, but we did contact them," he said. "We would deliberately go in with three $20 bills and he would make change from his pocket and there was no record-keeping apparent."
Galupo's attorney, Rolf Baumgartel, said the man wasn't taking payments under the table. He was taking cash only because he wasn't yet set up to take insurance at his new office and wanted to be able to provide services to patients who otherwise might not be able to afford them, Baumgartel said.
The attorney also maintains that Galupo did examine all patients and also obtained their medical histories.
"This is a man obviously of means," he said. "He's not someone who at 73 is going to go into the drug business at $50 a pop. That's ludicrous. ... I'm very concerned that this is nothing more than a photo op for the sheriff's office."
Galupo, who is no longer in jail, is scheduled to be in court again at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 8.
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Parrothead
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07-28-08 11:15 PM
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If you are referring to the "dumba**" - I edited myself when I posted it! Sorry.
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hockeypuck
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07-28-08 9:27 PM
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Oh yes, I almost forgot, you finally got edited.
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hockeypuck
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07-28-08 9:26 PM
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Once again, you are so good at judgments. Did you learn that or were you just born that way?
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Parrothead
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07-27-08 11:00 PM
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SO you’re an independent? I know what that means! It means that you either do not vote OR you waste your vote on a candidate that doesn’t have a snowballs chance in H*E*L*L of getting elected and take votes from a viable candidate. Heck – you may be one of the people responsible for putting “W” in the White House by taking votes from Gore or Kerry. If that’s the case – Thanks a lot, dumba**!
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hockeypuck
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07-27-08 4:39 PM
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Very funny. You must believe I am a republican. No such luck. Both parties suck. I am an Independent voter.
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Parrothead
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07-27-08 10:59 AM
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Founders? Bush & Cheney are not founders, that would be flounders!
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hockeypuck
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07-27-08 8:58 AM
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I said on this "edited" site. You left that out. Do you believe I should not be allowed to use that word? The Founders did.
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Parrothead
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07-26-08 10:44 PM
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No hockeypuck he was not providing a good service & if he is found guilty by a jury of his peers then he should be sentenced to pay his dept to society. I also believe that it should not be just a few months or a small fine. What is it you call those types of sentences – a slap on the wrists – correct? I do NOT believe that he should be terrorized, brutalized or treated in-humanly. If that makes me a Do-Gooder then I will wear that badge proudly. I personally think it does nothing more than make me a humanitarian. We live in a civilized society with laws & prescribed punishments for breaking them. Those of you that do not agree with them as they are should get off your duffs & try to get them changed instead of calling for brutalities on boards such as these. As for the “T” word being illegal on this site, in a moral & civilized society it should only be used to describe a historical fact or event, not to call for its use.
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hockeypuck
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07-26-08 10:02 PM
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So, Parrothead, do you think the doctor was doing a good service? Can't tell from your comments. The do-gooders have made it so the "T" word is illegal on this edited site.
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Parrothead
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07-26-08 5:04 PM
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teaglass97 - at least he stopped mentioning "torture" in every single post he would leave. If "do-gooders" is the worst he ever calls anyone on here we should all count it as a blessing.
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Parrothead
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07-26-08 5:04 PM
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teaglass97 - at least he stopped mentioning "torture" in every single post he would leave. If "do-gooders" is the worst he ever calls anyone on here we should all count it as a blessing.
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teaglass97
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07-26-08 2:01 PM
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hockeypuck---do-gooders? Is that your answer to every article on this site? What do you consider a do-gooder?
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acerace
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07-26-08 10:52 AM
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maybe his intent was to establish a new kind of service . . drive-thru! no exams, no waiting, no forms to fill out. his slogan could have been "got 50?". lol. seriously Rolf, i dont know how you do it (and stand yourself).
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hockeypuck
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07-26-08 9:19 AM
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Such a good doctor. Hey, this is just the guy for all you do-gooders out there. Look at the public service he provided. Affordable health care. No exam, but hey, its affordable!
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Morris
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07-26-08 9:09 AM
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...thank goodness the criminals have Rolf to distort the facts and hide the truth on their behalf...why, without him they might have to face the consequences for their crimes...(gasp)
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beddyrn
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07-26-08 8:52 AM
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He was taking cash only because he wasn't yet set up to take insurance at his new office and wanted to be able to provide services to patients who otherwise might not be able to afford them, Baumgartel said. NOT!! ... Oh, alright, so he was just being a "good guy" helping out people in pain! Right! "He's not someone who at 73 is going to go into the drug business" NO! He's been in the business .... he just got caught at 73!!! duah
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Dorthey
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07-26-08 7:57 AM
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Rolf thinks this is ludicrous? Horse pooh! If this was a "man of means" he could have opened his office and provided services for free for the patients "not able to afford them" until he was set up for insurance! "Photo op for the Sheriff Office"? I can't even begin to figure out that statement. Dumb?.....That's what lawyers are supposed to say?...Arrogance? .... His own photo op in the papers?
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