A Cape May County psychiatrist, Louis Morelli, 73, has pleaded guilty to 17 felony counts for unlawfully prescribing controlled substances, including Adderall, Vyvanse, and Xanax, often linked to sexual conduct and posing a risk of death or serious bodily injury. U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced that Morelli admitted to issuing invalid prescriptions to his sexual partners and known drug addicts.
Morelli, who operated a psychiatry practice in Smithville, New Jersey, admitted to distributing these highly addictive drugs outside the scope of professional practice and without legitimate medical purpose to 17 different patients. He intended to defraud pharmacies, insurers, and government benefits programs that paid for the medications. Morelli confessed to engaging in sexual activities with some patients, sometimes exchanging prescriptions for sex, images, or videos, as evidenced by messages like, “Your ass for my script…lol.”
Furthermore, Morelli continued to prescribe drugs to patients with documented histories of drug addiction and overdoses, even after receiving warnings from local law enforcement and family members about potential abuse or diversion. He admitted that at least one of his invalid prescriptions involved a conscious or reckless risk of death or serious bodily injury, with one instance resulting in death or serious bodily harm. For example, in 2019, Morelli was informed by a patient's mother that the patient was abusing prescribed drugs and had stopped breathing, yet he continued to issue prescriptions despite pleas to stop.
Morelli faces a maximum of three years in prison for each of the 17 charges, totaling up to 51 years, along with a $250,000 fine per charge. He has voluntarily surrendered his Drug Enforcement Administration Certificate of Registration and agreed to abandon his medical licenses. Sentencing is scheduled for October 27, 2026. U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer said, “Licensed medical professionals who prescribe powerful controlled substances outside the bounds of legitimate medical care put lives at risk and undermine public trust.” DEA Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James added that Morelli's conduct “represents a betrayal of patients, the medical profession, and public trust.”