Bergen County Doctor Permanently Stripped of Medical License Amid Federal and State Convictions
Dr. Robert Delagente, once a family practitioner in Oakland, NJ, is barred for life from practicing medicine after being sentenced to six years in federal prison for illegally distributing opioids and falsifying medical records.
The State Board of Medical Examiners has permanently revoked the medical license of Dr. Robert Delagente, a Bergen County physician currently serving a six-year federal prison sentence for illegally prescribing opioids and other controlled substances without legitimate medical justification. The revocation, announced by Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs, formally ends Delagente’s ability to practice medicine in New Jersey and prohibits him from ever reapplying for licensure.
Dr. Delagente operated North Jersey Family Medicine (NJFM) in Oakland, New Jersey, until June 2019, when his license was temporarily suspended following his arrest by federal authorities. In 2022, he pleaded guilty in federal court to multiple felony charges, including conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances (CDS), illegal distribution of CDS, and obstruction of justice by altering medical records.
“New Jersey is still struggling to address the long-term effects of an addiction crisis fueled by the unchecked flow of prescription opioids into our communities,” said Attorney General Platkin. “There is no doubt that Robert Delagente belongs behind bars for his role in keeping the scourge of addiction alive in our state. The action we’re announcing today holds him accountable for betraying his professional oath by recklessly prescribing highly addictive opioid medications that surely helped destroy the lives of countless individuals.”
The investigation, conducted jointly by the FBI and the New Jersey Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor (OIFP), found that from May 2014 onward, Delagente issued prescriptions for highly addictive opioids—such as oxycodone and Percocet—and benzodiazepines, including alprazolam and clonazepam, outside the bounds of legitimate medical practice. Investigators determined that Delagente failed to conduct proper examinations, ignored patient risk factors, and, at times, did not see patients at all before issuing prescriptions. He later altered patient records to falsely justify these actions when under investigation.
A verified complaint filed by the State after Delagente’s sentencing alleged gross negligence, professional misconduct, and criminal behavior inconsistent with the standards of medical care and public welfare. A final consent order signed this week confirms the permanent revocation of his medical license and New Jersey CDS Registration, which had authorized him to prescribe controlled substances.
In addition to the federal conviction, Delagente also pleaded guilty in a separate state case involving more than $32,000 in fraudulent insurance billing for unperformed services, including allergy testing and immunotherapy. He was sentenced to five years in state prison for second-degree health care claims fraud, to be served concurrently with his federal sentence.
“At a time when responsible physicians across New Jersey were joining the statewide effort to combat the addiction crisis and save lives, Robert Delagente was illegally profiting from this deadly epidemic,” said Elizabeth M. Harris, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “By revoking his license to practice medicine in New Jersey, we are making it clear that we will not allow doctors to hide behind their prescription pads to conduct themselves like street-corner drug dealers.”
Deputy Attorney General Cristina E. Ramundo represented the State in proceedings before the Board of Medical Examiners, under the supervision of Professional Boards Prosecution Section Chief Doreen Hafner, part of the Division of Law’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Practice Group.
Patients concerned about potentially inappropriate treatment by a licensed medical professional are encouraged to file complaints through the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, either online or by calling 1-800-242-5846.
