HARRISBURG — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle), published as received.
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a Wyoming County dentist, Christopher Bereznak, age 50, of Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on April 20, 2020, by United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani to a term of imprisonment of time served, approximately eight and a half months, on unlawful drug distribution charges.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, In August 2019, after a 7-day trial, a federal jury found Bereznak guilty on eight counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. It was alleged at trial that Bereznak initiated a sexual relationship with a young woman after answering her ad posted on Craig’s list wherein the young woman advertised that she was looking for a “sugar daddy.” Bereznak answered the young woman’s ad and thereafter initiated an intimate and sexual relationship with her. The relationship involved Bereznak providing prescriptions for controlled substances for the young woman in exchange for intimacy and sex. Bereznak’s sexual and unlawful relationship with the young woman was evidenced to the jury, in part, through the introduction of approximately 1,000 text messages between the two.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Mariani ordered that Bereznak be supervised by a probation officer for three years following his release from prison, and also imposed a $5,000 fine.
Bereznak’s license to practice dentistry in Pennsylvania has been suspended and his DEA registration has been revoked.
The charges stem from an investigation initiated by Drug Diversion Agents located in Scranton, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Scranton, the Olyphant Police Department, and the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Olshefski and Francis P. Sempa prosecuted the case.
# # #
