New York State Education Department

Office of the Professions

Summaries of Regents Actions on Professional Misconduct and Discipline

January 9, 2007

Terms under which this information is provided.



Architecture - Chiropractic - Dentistry - Massage Therapy - Nursing - Pharmacy - Physical Therapy - Public Accountancy - Respiratory Therapy - Social Work - Veterinary Medicine



Architecture

Ira J. Benlevi, Holliswood, NY
Profession: Architect; Lic. No. 014183; Cal. No. 22830
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: 1 year suspension, execution of last 6 months of suspension stayed.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of having been convicted of Giving Unlawful Gratuities, a class A misdemeanor, relating to providing unlawful payments to a building inspector.

Salvatore Marco Marrese, Tarrytown, NY
Profession: Architect; Lic. No. 024861; Cal. No. 22942
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $5,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges that, in each of 6 projects in which he stamped and signed the plans but did not draft said plans, there were errors in said plans or in his evaluation of said plans and in 2 of the projects, he failed to prepare an evaluation of said plans.

Mark Powell, Massapequa, NY
Profession: Architect; Lic. No. 022307; Cal. No. 21767
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation, $10,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of practicing the profession fraudulently relating to agreeing to provide professional services and accepting payment for those services and intentionally failing to complete the services.

Holly Lizabeth Schulz-Amatruda, Darien, CT
Profession: Architect; Lic. No. 027281; Cal. No. 23035
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year actual suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice in State of New York.
Summary: Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of filing a false report.

Chiropractic

Michael D. Ferguson, Geneva, NY
Profession: Chiropractor; Lic. No. 009437; Cal. No. 23098
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of willfully physically abusing two patients.

Stephen R. Hoody, New York, NY
Profession: Chiropractic; Lic. No. 004154; Cal. No. 23015
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $10,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the 2nd Degree, a class E felony.

Craig R. Wehrenberg, Clifton Park, NY
Profession: Chiropractic; Lic. No. 006719; Cal. No. 22741
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $3,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of delegating massage responsibilities, offering a bonus for referrals, and issuing a report and evaluation that was not authorized by the patient.

Dentistry

William H. Connors, Hudson, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 033280; Cal. No. 23051
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of filing a false report.

Alexander Lebel, Brooklyn, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 045645; Cal. No. 22669
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year actual suspension effective March 1, 2007, 2 years probation, $2,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the 1st Degree, a class E felony.

Sanford Leonard Mendelsohn, Boynton Beach, FL
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 027648; Cal. No. 23050
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charges of failure to maintain records which accurately reflected the evaluation and treatment of two patients.

Steve Vyacheslav Yunatanov, Kew Gardens, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 044486; Cal. No. 22142
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of Grand Larceny in the 2nd Degree, a class C felony, relating to Medicaid fraud.

Massage Therapy

Arleen J. Sokol, Bay Shore, NY
Profession: Massage Therapist; Lic. No. 015072; Cal. No. 22796
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Driving While Intoxicated, an unclassified misdemeanor.

Profession

Dorothy Paula Adler a/k/a Dorothy Adler, Pleasantville, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse, Nurse Practitioner; Lic. No. 335454, Cert. No. 420210; Cal. Nos. 22892, 22893
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Censure and Reprimand, 1 year probation.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of failure to maintain a record which accurately reflected the evaluation and treatment of a patient.

Cynthia A. Amidon, Kenly, NC
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 402168; Cal. No. 22981
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice in State of New York, $500 fine to be paid within 6 months.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of falsely documenting a nursing visit.

Doreen Arias, Oceanside, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 223722; Cal. No. 22665
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of having been convicted of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree, a class B felony.

Molonne Cantave, East Moriches, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 161399; Cal. No. 19416
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: 24 month suspension, execution of last 12 months of suspension stayed, $2,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of practicing the profession fraudulently related to supplying false educational credentials to the New York State Education Department.

Renee Delores Carlyle, Brooklyn, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 080184; Cal. No. 22911
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of failure to maintain a record which accurately reflected the evaluation and treatment of a patient.

Brenda Ann Connors, Troy, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 270914; Cal. No. 23033
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of having been convicted of Criminal Possession of Marijuana, 4th Degree, and Criminal Mischief, 4th Degree.

Ellen J. Cowieson, Green Island, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 441958; Cal. No. 23096
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 month actual suspension, 10 month stayed suspension, 12 months probation to commence upon return to practice.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Petit Larceny.

George Davidson, Brooklyn, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 260381; Cal. No. 23009
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspension for not less than 6 months and until fit to practice – upon termination of actual suspension 2 years probation if and when return to practice.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of having been convicted of Petit Larceny and of leaving narcotics keys in unlocked drawers.

Joheka Amenzie DeCastro, Marlboro, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 262189; Cal. No. 23036
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Welfare Fraud, a Class A misdemeanor.

Michael Delape, Manorville, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 227642; Cal. No. 22703
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 3 month actual suspension, 21 month stayed suspension, 2 years probation.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of willful failure to comply with substantial provisions of State laws governing the practice of the profession of nursing.

Geraldine S. Fagen-Koven, Sarasota, FL
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 178465; Cal. No. 22580
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year actual suspension with leave to apply for a stay of execution of any unserved portion of actual suspension upon successful completion of certain coursework – upon service of actual suspension or upon stay of execution of any unserved portion of actual suspension 2 years probation to commence if and when return to practice in State of New York.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Murder for Hire.

Kathleen Louise Falcone a/k/a Kathleen Anderson-Farrell, Lackawanna, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 250835, 493508; Cal. Nos. 22919, 22918
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspension until fit to practice – upon termination of actual suspension 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice, $500 fine to be paid within 6 months.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Criminal Mischief.

Alicia A. Grice, Remsenburg, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse, Nurse Practitioner; Lic. Nos. 129095, 308429, Cert. No. 301026; Cal. Nos. 22988, 22989, 22990
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year actual suspension with leave to apply for a stay of execution of any unserved portion of actual suspension upon successful completion of certain course – upon service of actual suspension or upon stay of execution of any unserved portion of actual suspension 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of failure to adequately monitor patients undergoing coagulation therapy.

Lynette Agnes Gritten a/k/a Lynette Agnes McCurchin, Bay Shore, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 201719, 415906; Cal. Nos. 22971, 22972
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 month actual suspension, 23 month stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $1,000 fine, 50 hours public service.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Attempted Grand Larceny in the 4th Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

Kathleen Guzzo, Staten Island, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 337152; Cal. No. 23064
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of stealing three vials of Toradol from her hospital employer’s supply.

Hubert Delroy Hamilton, Bronx, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 369716; Cal. No. 22957
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of failure to accurately maintain patient records.

Denise J. Henderson, Levittown, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 099961; Cal. No. 22755
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: 24 month suspension, execution of last 12 months of suspension stayed, probation 24 months.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of having been convicted of Grand Larceny in the 3rd Degree and Perjury in the 1st Degree, both class D felonies related to unlawful collection of Worker’s Compensation benefits.

Vickie J. Hotaling, Schuylerville, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 232304; Cal. No. 23068
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of having been convicted of Criminal Diversion of Prescription Medications and having violated Article 33 of the Public Health Law.

Susan Kreuzer, Angola, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 553344; Cal. No. 22675
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of failure to accurately maintain patient records and committing medication and documentation errors.

Ida G. Mari, Bellerose, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 413344; Cal. No. 22882
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 month actual suspension, 23 month stayed suspension, 24 months probation, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of failure to maintain a record for a patient which accurately reflected the evaluation and treatment of the patient.

Michael McDermott, Downsville, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 530877; Cal. No. 22993
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspension for not less than 6 months and until fit to practice – upon termination of actual suspension 2 years probation, $1,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of knowingly denying 2 criminal convictions on his application for licensure to practice as a registered professional nurse, leaving the keys to the narcotics cabinet unattended resulting in missing narcotics, and willfully denying on a re-registration application that his professional employment had been terminated.

Joy Lynn Mitchell, Thornwood, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 229097, 474486; Cal. Nos. 22945, 22944
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 24 month stayed suspension, 24 months probation, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of having been convicted of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol, both as an unclassified misdemeanor and as a Class E felony, and Obstructing Governmental Administration in the 2nd Degree, a class A misdeameanor, and of falsely denying on her registered professional nursing registration renewal application that criminal charges were pending aginst her in a court.

Cheryl Ostrowski, Bemus Point, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 205477; Cal. No. 23039
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspension until fit to practice – upon termination of actual suspension 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice, $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of forgery in the State of California.

Barbara Smoot, Albany, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 095640; Cal. No. 23007
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 month actual suspension, 11 month stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Assault, 3rd Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.

Nicole Lee Taylor a/k/a Nicole Lee Stevens, East Meadow, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 233304; Cal. No. 22820
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of having been convicted of Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor.

Rosario Toranzo, New Hampton, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 325802; Cal. No. 22701
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspension for not less than one month and until fit to practice – upon termination of actual suspension 2 years probation to commence if and when return to practice.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the 3rd Degree.

Rafael H. Vasquez, New York, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 242166; Cal. No. 22874
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 4th Degree.

David James Wait, Collins, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 479352; Cal. No. 23017
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of having been convicted of Driving While Intoxicated in 1999 and in 2003.

Cora S. Waite, LeRoy, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 113788, 372883; Cal. Nos. 22953, 22952
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 3 month actual suspension, 9 month stayed suspension, 1 year probation to commence if and when return to practice, $500 fine to be paid within 6 months.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of patient neglect.

Lorraine M. Walker, Schenectady, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 471591; Cal. No. 22931
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of inadequate record keeping.

Ann M. Wilcox, Corfu, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 543596; Cal. No. 23109
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of Driving While Intoxicated.

Robin Ann Wunsch, Lindenhurst, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 552155; Cal. No. 22969
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of committing medication and documentation errors.

Pharmacy

Mirza Naseer Ahmad, Syracuse, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 031442; Cal. No. 22916
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 3 month actual suspension, 21 month stayed suspension, 2 years probation to commence if and when return to practice, $1,000 fine to be paid within 6 months.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of prescribing and dispensing medication to a co-worker without a physician’s order.

Cynthia B. Beagan, Dix Hills, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 044053; Cal. No. 21975
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 month actual suspension, 11 month stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $2,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of directing that a patient take 10 tablets of a prescribed medication instead of the 1 tablet prescribed by the physician.

Ramses N. Costandi, Riverdale, RI
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 032417; Cal. No. 23135
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Theft of Property and Assets of a Health Care Benefit Program, a felony.

Genovese Drug Stores, Inc., 403 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley, NY 11967
Profession: Pharmacy; Reg. No. 015547; Cal. No. 22877
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: $7,500 fine, 1 year probation.
Summary: Respondent admitted to the charge of operating a pharmacy for 6 months without a supervising pharmacist.

Cynthia Lynn Jones, Ithaca, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 039769; Cal. No. 22519
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 3 month actual suspension, 21 month stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of practicing the profession of pharmacy with gross negligence.

Patrick Alan Nicol, Rochester, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 049856; Cal. No. 22973
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007 (see also June 2008)
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspension until fit to practice – upon termination of actual suspension 3 years probation to commence if and when return to practice, $5,000 fine to be paid within 12 months.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree, i.e., Oxycontin.

Physical Therapy

Renee M. Pinyan, Poughquag, NY
Profession: Physical Therapist; Lic. No. 013532; Cal. No. 23004
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $2,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of having been convicted of Driving While Intoxicated and of willfully making a false report in that she falsely answered “no” to the question regarding criminal convications on her physcial therapist re-registration application when she knew that she had been convicted of a crime.

Public Accountancy

Yasar Javed Bokhari, Forest Hills, NY
Profession: Certified Public Accountant; Lic. No. 087840; Cal. No. 22673
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: 5 year suspension, execution of last 4 years of suspension stayed, probation 5 years.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of having been convicted of Attempted Sodomy in the 3rd Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

Peter D. Cohen, Marlboro, NJ
Profession: Certified Public Accountant; Lic. No. 045196; Cal. No. 22751
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of having been convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Tax Evasion.

Robert Fixler, Elizabeth, NJ
Profession: Certified Public Accountant; Lic. No. 062856; Cal. No. 22948
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Partial actual suspension in certain area for not less than 1 year and until successful completion of certain course of retraining, upon termination of partial actual suspension 1 year probation, $8,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee does not contest charges of, in each of 4 audits of the financial statements of an entity, failure to obtain a management representation letter and failure to document his understanding of the entity’s internal control system.

Saul M. Freitas a/k/a Saul Freitas, Mt. Vernon, NY
Profession: Certified Public Accountant; Lic. No. 059243; Cal. No. 22201
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation, $10,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of having been convicted of Filing False States, a felony, related to filing false statements to the Internal Revenue Service.

Goldstein & Morris, CPAs, P.C., 36 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036
Profession: Public Accountancy; Cal. No. 22903
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years probation, $5,000 fine.
Summary: Respondent PC admitted to the charge of willful failure to cooperate in an inspection conducted by the PCAOB regarding the audit of two clients in that it participated in providing false and misleading information to said agency in response to a request for information made by said agency.

James Joseph Hager, Williston Park, NY
Profession: Certified Public Accountant; Lic. No. 054551; Cal. No. 22815
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Indefinite suspension until fit to practice as set forth in Regents Review Committee report – upon termination of suspension probation 2 years, 100 hours public service.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of having been convicted of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol, a class E felony.

Gary D. Herwitz, Irvington, NY
Profession: Certified Public Accountant; Lic. No. 039873; Cal. No. 23024
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Securities Fraud.

Edward B. Morris, New York, NY
Profession: Certified Public Accountant; Lic. No. 034117; Cal. No. 22902
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $5,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of willful failure to cooperate in an inspection conducted by the PCAOB regarding the audit of two clients in that he participated in providing false and misleading information to said agency in response to a request for information made by said agency.

Respiratory Therapy

Brooke Harvey Milligan, East Centereach, NY
Profession: Respiratory Therapist; Lic. No. 003926; Cal. No. 23032
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 month actual suspension, 23 month stayed suspension, 24 months probation.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of failure to complete nebulizer treatments as ordered for several patients; drawing a blood sample for an arterial blood gas test from the wrong patient; and failure to record in patient charts nebulizer treatments for several patients.

Social Work

William M. Ballen, Monsey, NY
Profession: Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Lic. No. 020393; Cal. No. 23025
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of failure to maintain a patient record which accurately reflects the evaluation and treatment of the patient, in that he treated a patient on 23 occasions but only kept records for 5 of those occasions.

Veterinary Medicine

Mary Abarno, Oneonta, NY
Profession: Veterinarian; Lic. No. 005611; Cal. No. 22933
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $2,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of failure to use proper surgical procedures and follow-up procedures.

Eugene L. Johannes, Almond, NY
Profession: Veterinarian; Lic. No. 002335; Cal. No. 22883
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007 (see also June 2008)
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 month actual suspension, 22 month stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of administering the drug Ivermectin to two collies.

James Anthony Lombard, Seneca Falls, NY
Profession: Veterinarian; Lic. No. 008101; Cal. No. 22926
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Driving While Intoxicated.

Rodwell Rillen, Bronx, NY
Profession: Veterinarian; Lic. No. 008880; Cal. No. 22268
Regents Action Date: January 9, 2007
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: 12 month suspension, execution of last 11 months of suspension stayed, probation 12 months.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of gross incompetence, gross negligence and negligence on more than one occasion as a result of failure to provide adequate care for and failing to properly diagnose and treat a canine patient.

For further information: dplsdsu@mail.nysed.gov
Last Update: February 10, 2009
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