NEW YORK – Authorities have arrested a doctor accused of sexually abusing numerous patients for more than 15 years, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, announced Wednesday. The patients were under his care as they suffered from severe and chronic pain and that was his specialty, said the Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, Ricardo Cruciani, 63, would have induced multiple victims to travel to his medical offices in states such as New York, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to subject them to illegal sexual abuse, said the Prosecutor’s Office. The events would have occurred in mid-2002 until 2017.
The defendant received five counts of tempting and inducing people to travel between states to engage in illegal sexual activities, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Prosecutor Williams pointed out that Cruciano had prescribed addictive painkillers “that made his patients dependent on him.” In addition, he highlighted how the alleged sexual abuser also involved the development of personal relationships with the victims “to generate trust.” “The alleged pattern of abuse in this case is outrageous, and Cruciani now faces federal charges for it,” he concluded.
The report explains how Cruciani allegedly used his ability to prescribe or withhold pain relievers, including highly addictive opioids, in order to sexually abuse his patients. In order for them to get prescription refills, the defendant required the victims to travel to their medical offices and other locations for in-person appointments. It was at this time that he attracted and induced victims to travel between states, at least in part, for the purpose of subjecting them to illegal sexual abuse.
The abusive sexual conduct included, among other things, forceful kisses, touching the breasts and genitals of the victims, oral sex acts, vaginal intercourse and attempts at anal intercourse, describes the Prosecutor’s Office.
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