Regents Actions in 27 Professional Discipline Cases

I. REVOCATIONS & SURRENDERS

Dentistry

Jason Robert DiBlasi; Dentist; Massapequa, NY 11758; Lic. No. 053299; Cal. No. 35023; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of 11 counts of Criminal Sale of a Prescription for a Controlled Substance by a Practitioner, class C felonies.

Mental Health Practitioners

Jonathan Kerz; Licensed Mental Health Counselor; New Rochelle, NY 10801; Lic. No. 013156; Cal. No. 34970; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of having an inappropriate relationship with a patient.

Nursing

Lindsay Taylor Almeida; Licensed Practical Nurse; Nassau, NY 12123-2702; Lic. No. 308254; Cal. No. 32941; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation.

Harold Martin Cole; Licensed Practical Nurse; Alden, NY 14004-1187; Lic. No. 289357; Cal. No. 33504; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation.

Physical Therapy

Richard J. Foley; Physical Therapist; Mahopac, NY 10541; Lic. No. 005663; Cal. No. 34017; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of failing to maintain professional boundaries with two patients.

Public Accountancy

Ralph J. Anderson, Jr. a/k/a Ralph B. Anderson; Certified Public Accountant; Lewisburg, PA 17837; Lic. No. 048896; Cal. No. 34962; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of having been convicted of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States, a class D felony.

Scott Vincent Becker; Certified Public Accountant; Goshen, NY 10924; Lic. No. 097799; Cal. No. 35030; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of having been convicted of Racketeering Conspiracy, a class C felony, Securities Fraud, a class C felony, and Wire Fraud, a class C felony.

Friedman LLP; Certified Public Accountancy Partnership; New York, NY 10017; Reg. No. 055050; Cal. No. 35042; Application to surrender registration granted. Summary: Registrant did not contest charges of failure to comply with generally accepted auditing standards in connection with a 2017 and 2018 audit of the financial statements of Company A and failure to comply with generally accepted auditing standards in connection with a 2020 audit of the financial statements of Company A.

Social Work

Jay David Marson; Licensed Master Social Worker; Larchmont, NY 10538; Lic. No. 035162; Cal. No. 34232; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of engaging in consensual romantic relationship with a former patient.

II. OTHER REGENTS DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

Mental Health Practitioners

Robert Ian Beverley; Licensed Mental Health Counselor; Poughkeepsie, NY 12601-6209; Lic. No. 001455; Cal. No. 34754; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 3 months actual suspension, upon return to practice, 2 years probation, $2,000 fine.

Nursing

Elizabeth R. Cooney a/k/a Elizabeth R. Ojo; Licensed Practical Nurse; North Tonawanda, NY 14120; Lic. No. 287499; Cal. No. 34075; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $250 fine.

Charles A. Frank a/k/a Charles Frank; Registered Professional Nurse; East Orange, NJ 07017-2031, Brooklyn, NY 11210-1937; Lic. No. 650883; Cal. No. 34463; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Indefinite actual suspension until alcohol abuse free and fit to practice, upon return to practice, 2 years probation.

Todd Thomas Felong; Licensed Practical Nurse; Alden, NY 14004; Lic. No. 310062; Cal. No. 34729; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $250 fine.

Pharmacy

Elena M. Luna; Pharmacist; Jackson Heights, NY 11372; Lic. No. 036940; Cal. No. 34966; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $5,000 fine.

AL KOSTO INC.; Pharmacy; Jackson Heights, NY 11372; Reg. No. 025465; Cal. No. 34967; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: $5,000 fine.

Devaughn Christopher Williams; Registered Pharmacy Technician; DeWitt, NY 13214; Lic. No. 001257; Cal. No. 35002; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Public Accountancy

Jeffrey T. Smith; Certified Public Accountant; Webster, NY 14580; Lic. No. 067654; Cal. No. 34449; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $2,500 fine.

William F. Burke; Certified Public Accountant; New York, NY 10017; Lic. No. 127134; Cal. No. 34934; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $1,500 fine.

Kristin Ford Clauss; Certified Public Accountant; Bloomfield, NY 14469; Lic. No. 069130; Cal. No. 34965; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $1,500 fine.

Mike Aversano CPA PC; Professional Service Corporation; Wilmington, NC 28411; Reg. No. 111706; Cal. No. 34972; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $5,000 fine.

Janice Ann Gilliam; Certified Public Accountant; Old Tappan, NJ 07675; Lic. No. 062457; Cal. No. 35028; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $1,500 fine.

William D. Hitter; Certified Public Accountant; West Islip, NY 11795; Lic. No. 062032; Cal. No. 35033; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $1,000 fine.

Louis Kurpis; Certified Public Accountant; Flemington, NJ 08822; Lic. No. 032118; Cal. No. 35037; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $500 fine.

Jeffrey Eng; Certified Public Accountant; Flushing, NY 11354; Lic. No. 065480; Cal. No. 35040; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $1,500 fine.

Social Work

Kenneth George Lent; Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776; Lic. No. 048202; Cal. No. 34979; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 month actual suspension, 23 months stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $5,000 fine.

Lisa Simpson Castetter; Licensed Master Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Binghamton, NY 13905; Lic. Nos. 059490, 074248; Cal. Nos. 34996, 34997; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation.