A Long Island urologist and his wife, who previously appeared on the Bravo reality series "Below Deck," have been arraigned in New York on charges related to filling out bogus opioid prescriptions using the names of cast members from the show. The couple, Francis Martinis, a 55-year-old urologist, and his wife, Jessica Martinis, 38, of Fort Salonga, New York, were charged with criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance by a practitioner and falsifying business records. They appeared in state court in Riverhead on Long Island after being arrested in May and both pleaded not guilty.

The Bravo series "Below Deck," which premiered in 2013, follows the lives of the crew members and passengers aboard a luxury yacht. The Martinises appeared on the spinoff "Below Deck Mediterranean" in 2019, and Francis Martinis also appeared on "Below Deck Sailing Yacht" the following year. Their attorney, Peter Crusco, stated that the charges against them are bogus and that his clients have pleaded not guilty, looking forward to their day in court to clear their names.

According to prosecutors, Francis Martinis allegedly transmitted prescriptions for oxycodone to Long Island pharmacies using the names of “Below Deck” cast members as the supposed patients. Jessica Martinis then picked up the drugs and paid for them in cash. Red flags were raised in January 2023 when Jessica attempted to fill a handwritten prescription for oxycodone in someone else's name, which led to an investigation. The investigation uncovered evidence of numerous fake prescriptions that Francis had written using the names of cast members from the reality show. Prosecutors clarified that none of the oxycodone was intended for the people named in the prescriptions.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney emphasized the breach of ethical standards by physicians and the violation of the law committed by Francis Martinis and his wife. The federal Drug Enforcement Agency's Special Agent in Charge for New York, Frank Tarentino, stated that these arrests serve as a reminder that a doctor's illicit drug diversion can lead to serious harm, such as drug overdoses and poisonings.

A representative for NBCUniversal, Bravo's parent company, declined to comment on the matter. The Martinises were released without bail and are scheduled to appear in court again on January 25.