10 arrested in prescription drug racket

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The state Attorney General says he has broken up a prescription drug and cocaine distribution ring operating in Buffalo.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced ten people from Buffalo and Niagara Falls were arrested and indicted on Tuesday after a year-long investigation with the State Police. The accused allegedly obtained prescriptions of Suboxone and Lortab and re-sold the pills on the street. The profits were used to then buy and re-sell cocaine and other street drugs. The Attorney General says for the most part, many of the co-conspirators were receiving Medicaid Pharmacy Benefits, and the majority of the cost of the prescription drugs were paid for by Medicaid.

The indictment alleges that 30-year-old Michael Fiorello, 29-year-old Louis Viggato, 26-year-old Richard Koltoniak, all of Buffalo, inflated their addiction symptoms to receive prescriptions. Fiorello and Koltoniak also allegedly obtained the urine of young adult males to give to their doctors to continue receiving prescription drugs. Viggato allegedly sold half ounces of cocaine to undercover operatives on four separate occasions. It is alleged Fiorello, Viggato and Koltoniak coached other co-conspirators on how to inflate their own addiction symptoms to obtain prescription drugs.

Also arrested were 32-year-old William Franz of Niagara Falls; 34-year-old Maurice Giles, 29-year-old Dave Novak, 27-year-old Tony Winans, 55-year-old Dennis Failey, 25-year-old Angelo Costantino, and 21-year-old Jackie Gilbert, all of Buffalo.

Earlier this month, the Attorney General announced the largest heroin bust in Buffalo history.