New Haven Doctor Charged with Unlawfully Prescribing Oxycodone

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Brian C. Turner, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging DR. JENNIFER FARRELL, 37, with 35 counts of distribution of narcotics without a legitimate medical purpose.

As alleged in the indictment, Farrell was a medical resident at Yale New Haven Health (“YNHH”) in the Emergency Department from July 2017 until June 2019.  From March 2018 to March 2019, Farrell wrote at least 35 prescriptions for oxycodone for non-legitimate medical purposes outside the scope of her professional practice in the name of at least five individuals.  Farrell did not see any of the individuals for any medical purpose at any YNHH facility during the entire period of her residency.

If convicted, Farrell faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count.

Farrell was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on July 31, 2019, and is released on a $200,000 bond.

Farrell, who was living in New Haven at the time of her arrest, is currently residing in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Diversion Control Group, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherry.