Ridgewood Cancer Surgeon faces Serious Drug Charges
November 2.2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, A well known breast cancer surgeon Mary Ann Benigno, 52, of Saddle River who practices both in Ridgewood and Rochelle Park is facing drug charges, according to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
Benigno was arrested Wednesday after a five-month investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force and the Saddle River Police Department.
Authorities said that Benigno improperly wrote and filled prescriptions for hydrocodone, oxycodone, amphetamine salts and methylphenidate in the names of several different patients. She picked up the drugs at Gallo’s Pharmacy on Passaic Avenue in Rochelle Park and turned some of them over to the people for whom they were prescribed and kept some for her personal use.
Benigno was charged with one second-degree count of purposely distributing, dispensing or possessing with the intent to distribute greater than one ounce of hydrocodone; and one third-degree count of purposely distributing, dispensing or possessing with the intent to distribute less than one ounce of amphetamine salts and methylphenidate.
In a statement the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said the investigation is still ongoing pending the review of medical records and patient files for individuals who have filled prescriptions written by Benigno during the past 11 months.
Judge Louis Dinice of the Bergen County Central Municipal Court set bail at $50,000 with no 10 percent option . Benigno posted bail Wednesday, and is expected to appear in Bergen County Central Municipal Court Thursday afternoon.
Benigno is also an attending physician at Holy Name Hospital, Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center, Saint Barnabas Medical Center and Heartland Medical Center in Staten Island. She is also a clinical instructor at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, which includes training surgical oncology fellows at Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center, according to Total Care’s web site. her office in Ridgewood is listed as 145 Prospect Street Ridgewood, NJ 07450
