Paterson pair conspired with doctor to distribute opioids, federal authorities say
By Jonathan Greene
Published: January 27, 2024
A pair of Paterson residents have been charged for allegedly conspiring with a doctor to distribute opioids, federal authorities said on Friday.
Jasmine McGregor, 32, and Jhanelle Lewis, 35, both from Paterson, were charged with conspiring with a doctor to illegally distribute oxycodone. Both appeared before a federal judge and were released on $100,000 unsecured bond.
McGregor and Lewis are each facing one count of knowingly and intentionally conspiring and agreeing with others, including Dr. Lisa Ferraro of Hillsdale, to distribute oxycodone. The offenses are alleged to have occurred outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. Dr. Lisa Ferraro, also implicated in this case, was charged with the same offense and arrested on October 3, 2023.
From July 11, 2021, to October 3, 2023, in McGregor’s case, and from May 11, 2021, to October 3, 2023, in Lewis’s case, they were involved in a conspiracy with Ferraro to prescribe oxycodone to individuals who were not actual patients of Ferraro. These individuals allegedly never underwent a physical examination or symptom questioning by Ferraro to determine a legitimate medical need for the drug. The complaints detail that among those who received prescriptions were social acquaintances of McGregor and a romantic partner of Lewis, whose personal information was provided to Ferraro without their consent.
Over the duration of the conspiracy, Ferraro is accused of writing prescriptions for a significant number of oxycodone pills, totaling 630 20mg pills and 12,040 30mg pills in McGregor’s case, and 19,088 30mg pills in Lewis’s case.
McGregor and Lewis face maximum of 20 years in prison and up to $1 million in fines.