Ex-Councilman Offered Plea Deal, Reports Say

Former Madison Councilman Dr. Vincent Esposito, who was arrested on drug distribution charges last February for allegedly writing painkiller prescriptions for people he never examined, has been offered a five-year plea deal by the Attorney General's Office, according to the Daily Record.

Esposito's new defense attorney, Robert Dunn, said the Attorney General's Office made the offer Tuesday and he planned to discuss it with Esposito, an NJ.com report says.

It came out in court that a pharmacist at Bottle Hill Pharmacy in Madison was charged in connection with Esposito's case, but additional information about the charge was not immediately available and the pharmacist was not believed to be in the U.S., the Daily Record report says. Another pharmacist told Madison Patch the DEA conducted an unannounced audit at Bottle Hill Pharmacy the same day Esposito was arrested, but it has not been said if those incidents were connected.

Esposito was charged nearly a year ago with second-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and conspiracy, charges that carry a possible sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000.

Esposito did not seek re-election and served the remainder of his term, which was up at the end of December. He has denied the charges.

In March, Esposito agreed to temporarily surrender his medical license pending the disposition of the criminal charges. His medical office on Main Street was listed for rent. A message was left with Dunn's office Tuesday afternoon.