Two Doctors, Physician’s Assistant Charged With Unlawfully Distributing Controlled Substances Via Voicemail “Refill Line”

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia released the information below:

PHILADELPHIA – The United States Attorney David Metcalf announced criminal charges against three defendants in connection with an alleged pill mill conspiracy. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown.

Dr. Joseph P. DiRenzo Jr., 64, of Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, Dr. Marc A. Matozzo, 56, of Woodbury, New Jersey, and Joseph D. Norris, P.A., 62, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were charged by indictment with conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances. DiRenzo and Matozzo were also each charged with two counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances. Norris was also charged with two counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances and one count of false statements related to health care matters. 

“Medical professionals who prescribe powerful drugs indiscriminately are fueling the opioid crisis that continues to grip our area,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “Just like street dealers, they are perpetuating people’s pain and addiction. My office and our partners will never stop working to put pill mills out of business. We would ask anyone with knowledge of such prescription abuse to share their information with law enforcement. Doing so could save lives.”

As alleged in the indictment, from January 2020 through March 2025, the defendants operated a voicemail refill line that allowed patients to request and receive refills of Schedule II controlled substance prescriptions, namely oxycodone and amphetamine, without ever interacting with a licensed and registered prescriber. The defendants prescribed to patients who used the refill line to receive prescriptions for controlled substances for up to and, in some instances, exceeding one year without interacting with a licensed prescriber. The defendants knew that certain pharmacies refused to fill certain of their controlled substances prescriptions, but defendants submitted the refused prescriptions to other pharmacies and submitted prescriptions in the name of another medical professional in order to deceive the pharmacies into filling the prescriptions. 

The indictment further alleges that the defendants received notice from pharmacy benefit managers and insurers that the defendants had prescribed dangerous amounts of Schedule II controlled substances and dangerous combinations of controlled substances and other medications, but they continued to prescribe these medicines. 

Some patients who used the refill line to obtain Schedule II controlled substances from defendants suffered drug overdoses and died. Although the defendants learned of the overdoses and deaths, they allegedly continued to operate the refill line to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances without interacting with patients. 

“Medical professionals occupy a position of trust and are sworn to care for and protect their patients,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “The defendants in this case allegedly violated that trust and their professional oaths by continuing to prescribe dangerous quantities of Schedule II narcotics, even after being warned about the risks posed by their prescribing practices. At a time when our nation continues to confront an opioid crisis, conduct like this undermines public confidence in the medical profession and the tireless efforts of those working to save lives. The FBI, alongside our partners, will continue to aggressively pursue individuals who exploit positions of trust and benefit from illegal, dangerous, and, too often, fatal schemes.”

“Medical providers are responsible for ensuring that controlled substances are prescribed properly,” said Maureen Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia Regional Office for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Protecting the public from dangerous provider behaviors and drug overdoses is a top priority for HHS-OIG. In conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, and other fellow law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively investigate alleged drug diversion.”

This case was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Claiborne Bisio of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Trial Attorneys Paul J. Koob and Nicholas K. Peone of the Northeast Strike Force, part of the Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Unit.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

The charges announced today by U.S. Attorney Metcalf are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. Today’s Takedown represents a new era in federal, state, and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: cases in 56 federal districts and 45 U.S. states and territories, with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating, the most in Department history. In addition, unprecedented international cooperation over the two-week Takedown resulted in the apprehension and return to the United States of the following health care fraudsters: one defendant in Kyrenia in connection with an over $3.7 billion scheme; two defendants in Estonia in connection with a previously charged $10.6 billion scheme; and, in the Philippines, one of FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters in connection with a previously-charged $1.2 billion telemedicine fraud scheme. The Takedown involves the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; the seizure of over $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets; and full-spectrum accountability for all criminal actors from doctor’s offices to corporate boardrooms.

Today’s coordinated enforcement action involves a whole-of-government approach, including: 

• Actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to suspend 1,079 providers and revoke billing privileges for 1,403 providers.
• 48 civil monetary payment settlements amounting to over $73 million, over 1,400 provider exclusions and 25 HHS-OIG actions under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law seeking more than $10 billion in payments to the Medicare Trust Fund from payments that CMS caught and suspended before the funds were paid to the fraudulent providers.
• Civil charges against 13 defendants for $14.8 million in health care fraud schemes as well as civil settlements with 31 defendants totaling $23 million.
• 928 administrative cases by the Drug Enforcement Administration seeking the revocation of authority to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances since October 1, 2025.