Connecticut Psychiatrist David Ciancimino Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Prescribing Adderall and Xanax

May 27, 2022

A psychiatrist based out of Shelton, Connecticut was sentenced to more than three years in prison Thursday for prescribing Xanax and Adderall “with little to no medical examination,” according to federal prosecutors.

David Ciancimino, 63, of Trumbull, practiced psychiatry and neurology at an office in Shelton. Law enforcement started looking into Ciancimino’s prescribing practices of various benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, and stimulants, like Adderall, in October 2020, according to United States Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery.

During the investigation, undercover officers paid Ciancimino $200 during visits to receive Xanax or Adderall prescriptions, or their generic equivalents, “with little to no medical examination,” the U.S. attorney’s office stated.

Authorities arrested Ciancimino on Sept. 23, 2021. On Jan. 24, he pleaded guilty to distribution of a controlled substance without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the scope of professional practice, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

U.S. District Judge Omar Williams in Hartford sentenced Ciancimino to serve 46 months in prison — or three years and 10 months — followed by three years of supervised release for the offense. Williams also ordered Ciancimino to pay a $25,000 fine, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

In addition to the $25,000 fine, Ciancimino forfeited $175,773 seized at the time of his arrest, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

Ciancimino is currently released on a $500,000 bond and is required to report to prison on July 25. He surrendered his medical license in January, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

Source: Liz Hardaway, “Feds: Shelton psychiatrist sentenced for illegally prescribing Xanax, Adderall,” CTPost, May 26, 2022, URL: https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Feds-Shelton-psychiatrist-sentenced-for-17201623.php