Long Island doctor accused of plotting murder for hire concerned for patients, wants to work

MINEOLA, N.Y. (WABC) -- A cardiologist from Long Island accused of having another doctor's office torched before hiring undercover officers to have him hurt or killed was back in court Friday.

And Dr. Anthony Moschetto's attorney says patients are standing by his client while he tries to retrieve his records so he can return to work.

Moschetto pleaded not guilty earlier this week to conspiracy and other charges and is accused of using drugs, guns and blank prescriptions to have the other doctor - his former partner - attacked.

After a court appearance Friday, Moschetto's lawyer, Randy Zelin, said his client is concerned about his patients and wants to return to work as soon as prosecutors return his patients' health records. They were seized when authorities raided Moschetto's home in Sands Point on Tuesday.

"At this point I see no reason why we can't reach an agreement where those things he needs to be a doctor are going to be given back to him, because this is a man who is in the business of savings people's lives and I don't think anybody wants to get in the way of that," Zelin said. "My understanding is that overwhelmingly, if not every single one, of his patients want to continue to be his patients and they're worried about him."

Moschetto is accused of hiring an intermediary to have his former partner's office torched and - when that fire resulted in only minor damage - seeking someone to attack the man, prosecutors said. Moschetto allegedly said he would pay $5,000 to have the man beaten and $20,000 to have him killed and wanted the attack to happen in early May while he was out of town, prosecutors said. He was caught on video giving an undercover officer $500 in cash and three dozen blank prescriptions as a deposit, according to authorities.

Investigators found a cache of weapons, including dozens of knives, guns and a hand grenade, in a secret room that was accessed through a motorized bookcase.

Authorities are still determining whether additional charges will be brought. Zelin claims the weapons are legal.

James Chmela, 44, of Selden, and James Kalamaras, 41, of Suffolk County, were also arrested in connection with the scheme and have pleaded not guilty.

"What started as a routine investigation into the sale of prescription drugs revealed itself to be an even graver and more complex case with very serious allegations involving arson, assault weapons and even a murder plot," acting District Attorney Madeline Singas said. "Doctors are supposed to ensure the health and well-being of people, but Dr. Moschetto is alleged to have replaced that responsibility with brazen, callous and criminal acts."

Moschetto is charged with conspiracy, criminal sale of a prescription, arson, burglary, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal sale of a firearm and criminal solicitation. He faces a maximum sentence of 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison on the top charge.

Chmela is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, arson, burglary and criminal sale of a firearm and faces 3 1/2 to 15 years if convicted, while Kalamaras is charged with arson and burglary and faces life in prison.

The following details are all attributable to DA Singas:

The alleged murder-for-hire scheme was discovered when an undercover police investigation involving the purchase of Oxycodone pills led to the additional undercover purchases of heroin and two fully loaded assault weapons, as well as the seller's pursuit of dynamite for the purpose of blowing up a property.

During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that the assault weapons and prescriptions for the pills were originally acquired and transferred to the seller by Dr. Moschetto, who sought to pay for the arson of a fellow cardiologist's office, as well as the murder of the fellow cardiologist, partially through the illegal transfer of prescriptions and the weapons.

The case dates back to December 2014, when authorities say the first of six undercover drug buys from the seller, until March 2015, was conducted. During this period of time, the drugs sold to undercover detectives included 410 Oxycodone pills and 198 bags of heroin.

Also sold to an undercover detective during the fourth buy, on Feb. 10, was one Israeli Military Industries brand Uzi 9-mm semi-automatic assault weapon with a 25-round magazine, one Norinco brand SKS 7.62 x 39 mm semi-automatic assault weapon with a 30-round magazine, and ammunition for both. Authorities say Chmela took part in this sale, along with the unnamed seller.

During the second buy of the investigation, on Jan. 22, the seller informed the undercover detective that he needed dynamite to blow up a building. During the sixth buy, on March 12, the seller said he no longer needed dynamite because he had a friend set fire to the building instead. That friend is alleged to be Kalamaras.

Chmela is alleged to have also taken part in the arson, with the fire believed to have been set on or around February 22. The fire damaged but did not destroy the office of another cardiologist, whose relationship with Dr. Moschetto had soured due to a professional dispute.

During one of the undercover drug buys, a conversation ensued about a Feb. 25 arson that detectives were subsequently able to link to Dr. Moschetto as ordering it, to Mr. Kalamaras as conducting it and Mr. Chmela as assisting in it. The arson damaged but did not destroy the office of the fellow cardiologist, whose relationship with Dr. Moschetto had soured due to a professional dispute.

As the investigation progressed, Dr. Moschetto gave a confidential informant and an undercover detective blank prescriptions and cash as payments, at one point for the assault and at another point for the murder, of the fellow cardiologist. At one point, Dr. Moschetto even asked for the assault of his victim's wife if she was present during the primary assault. At the time of Dr. Moschetto's arrest yesterday, his instruction had most recently reverted back to the commission of an assault against his victim.

The investigation is ongoing.