Former ‘Below Deck’ Charter Guests Unveiled as Alleged Masterminds Behind Prescription Drug Identity Theft Scandal
Former 'Below Deck' charter guests face shocking allegations of identity theft, as they're accused of exploiting cast members' identities in a fraudulent prescription drug scheme Find out the disturbing details in this gripping article!
João Franco, Jessica Martinis, Francis Martinis, and Hannah Ferrie. Courtesy of Francis Martinis/Instagram
The ex-guests of Below Deck Mediterranean were arrested for their involvement in a prescription drug scheme, in which they allegedly stole the identities of several cast members from the popular Bravo series. Dr. Francis Martinis and his wife, Jessica Martinis, faced charges on Thursday, December 14, for four counts of criminal sale of prescription for a controlled substance by a practitioner and four counts of falsifying business records, as reported by NBC New York.
Earlier this year, an investigation was launched after Jessica tried to fill a fake oxycodone prescription at a pharmacy in Kings Park, New York. The handwritten prescription raised suspicion, prompting the pharmacist to alert the police. It was later discovered that Francis had sent numerous fake oxycodone prescriptions to pharmacies in Suffolk County over the span of two years.
Authorities revealed that Jessica was involved in the scheme, picking up the prescriptions and paying in cash. Some of the allegedly fake prescriptions were written under the names of two Below Deck cast members.
“Suffolk County district attorney Raymond Tierney emphasized the significant personal and professional responsibility that comes with being a trusted member of the community. He stated, "Physicians are held to a high standard and take an oath to uphold professional ethical standards when they begin their careers. The conduct Dr. Martinis allegedly engaged in with his wife not only violated this oath, but it also violated the law."
In 2019, the cast had a reunion. The photo was shared on Francis Martinis' Instagram account. However, in May, Francis and Jessica were arrested and faced charges of eight counts of criminal sale of controlled substances and falsifying business records.
Michael Balboni, the former Director of Homeland Security for New York, addressed the allegations on Thursday, stating to NBC, "If it is proven that [Francis] used his celebrity status on the ship to steal the identities of crew members in order to buy drugs, then this is a common scheme for a common criminal. Prosecutors will want to send a message to all other physicians — you have special access to these drugs, you know how they work and if you do this, you will be prosecuted."
Before their legal troubles, Francis and Jessica were featured on season 4 of Below Deck Mediterranean, which aired in 2019. Francis later appeared as a guest on Below Deck Sailing Yacht one year later, and his social media accounts are filled with photos of himself alongside various cast members throughout the years.
Peter Crusco, the attorney for Francis and Jessica, stated that the couple has pleaded not guilty and believes that the evidence will prove the charges to be unsubstantiated. According to a bail letter obtained by People, prosecutors allege that Jessica told the police upon her arrest, "We did not sell any prescriptions, it was all for our personal use. There was no diversion."
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Francis and Jessica are scheduled to appear in court on January 25, 2024. They have been placed on supervised release by a judge.
We has reached out to Bravo for comment.
