Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DAVID CIANCIMINO, 63, of Trumbull, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 46 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally distributing prescription medication. Judge Williams also ordered Ciancimino to pay a $25,000 fine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ciancimino was a sole practitioner practicing psychiatry and neurology/psychiatry from an office located at 4 Corporate Drive in Shelton. In October 2020, law enforcement began investigating Ciancimino’s prescribing practices of various benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, and stimulants, such as Adderall. During the investigation, federal task force officers acting in an undercover capacity paid Ciancimino $200 during visits to receive prescriptions for Xanax or Adderall, or their generic equivalents, with little to no medical examination.
Ciancimino was arrested on September 23, 2021. On January 24, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the scope of professional practice.
In addition to his fine, Ciancimino has forfeited $175,773.45 seized at the time of his arrest.
Ciancimino, who is released on a $500,000 bond, is required to report to prison on July 25.
Ciancimino surrendered his medical license in January.
This investigation was conducted by the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and HHS-OIG’s Office of Investigations, with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection – Drug Control Division and the Middlebury Police Department. The DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad includes personnel from the DEA and the Bristol, East Windsor, Glastonbury, Hamden, Manchester, New Britain, Newington, Watertown and West Haven Police Departments.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather L. Cherry.