A Cape Coral, FL, dentist whose license had been revoked has pleaded guilty to illegally distributing steroids and human growth hormones to Major League Baseball players and other celebrities, according to a story in the Times Union.
James M. D'Amico posed as a doctor and signed prescriptions for two years after his Florida dentistry license was revoked in 2003, the newspaper reported. He is accused of prescribing drugs to patients he'd never met, including former Major League pitcher Paul Byrd, outfielder Jose Guillen, and former All-Star third baseman Matt Williams, all of whom received performance-enhancing drugs through prescriptions approved by D'Amico, according business records cited by the newspaper.
D'Amico's clientele also included Paul Teutul Sr., star of the Discovery Channel's popular reality TV series, "American Chopper," the Times Union reported.
D'Amico wrote prescriptions after his U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency registration expired in 2003, and he was no longer authorized to prescribe controlled substances, according to the story.
Last month, D'Amico's attorneys asked permission to invoke an insanity defense after a federal judge ruled him competent to stand trial.
D'Amico's record includes the loss of his medical credentials for patient neglect and fraud and a conviction for cocaine possession, the story stated.
D'Amico was indicted last March by a federal grand jury in West Palm Beach, FL. He pleaded guilty February 4 to three felony counts of illegal distribution of human growth hormone and steroids, and lying to a federal grand jury, according to the story.
He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million, the Times Union reported.
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