Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) have announced the arrest of a Suffolk County Legislator for allegedly offering to illegally supply narcotics to a prostitute in exchange for a sex act.
Dr. William “Doc” Spencer, 53, of Centerport, is charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B felony, and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B felony.
“The message here is that the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office will continue to work in partnership with all of the law enforcement agencies operating here on Long Island, including the DEA and members of the Long Island Heroin Task Force, to hold criminals accountable no matter who they are or what their walk of life is,” District Attorney Sini said. “This investigation is very much ongoing, and justice will be served in this case.”
“Our investigations take us down diverse paths but always end up at the same conclusion-identifying and arresting drug traffickers,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan. “Opioid abuse is on the rise again and law enforcement is hard at work tracking down those who fuel drug addiction through distribution. I applaud our law enforcement partners on their diligent work throughout this investigation.”
“Law enforcement officers follow the evidence and this time, the evidence led to a prominent member of the community,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said. “This department, working along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to tackling the opioid epidemic and holding those who fuel the spread accountable. I commend the District Attorney and the members of the DEA’s Long Island Heroin Task Force for their work bringing this case to light.”
Spencer has served as a Suffolk County Legislator since January 2012 and represents Suffolk County’s 18th Legislative District. He is also a physician who currently serves as the Chief of Otolaryngology at Huntington Hospital and has his own private medical practice located at 25 East Carver Street in Huntington.
Pursuant to an investigation by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the DEA’s Long Island Heroin Task Force, Spencer was contacted by an undercover police officer posing as a prostitute on Oct. 20. Spencer allegedly agreed via text message to unlawfully provide the undercover police officer with oxycodone pills.
Spencer was arrested at the arranged meeting location in his County-issued vehicle and was found in possession of two oxycodone pills.
Spencer was arraigned by Acting Suffolk County Court Judge Pierce Cohalan and was released on his own recognizance. He was ordered to surrender his passport and any firearms in his possession. He is due back in court on Feb. 26. If convicted of the top count, Spencer faces a maximum sentence of up to nine years in prison.
The DEA’s Long Island Heroin Task Force comprises law enforcement agents from the DEA, New York State Police, Suffolk County Police Department, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, Nassau County Police Department and Nassau County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kevin Ward and Laura de Oliveira, of the Public Integrity Bureau.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
