Former ‘Below Deck’ Charter Guests Hit Choppy Waters As They Are Charged With Identity Theft In Prescription Drug Scheme

Rough seas lie ahead for one couple who previously appeared as charter guests on Below Deck, as the duo was recently charged with criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance and falsifying business records.

Dr. Francis Martinis, a urologist, and his wife, Jessica Martinis — who appeared in Below Deck Mediterranean in 2019 and Below Deck Sailing Yacht the following year — were indicted on Thursday (Dec. 14) for allegedly using the names of former Below Deck cast members to obtain prescription drugs like oxycodone.

According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, red flags were first raised in January 2023 when Jessica allegedly attempted to fill a handwritten prescription for the opioid, issued by her husband. Prosecutors claim that her name was not listed as the patient and since most prescriptions are transmitted electronically, the pharmacist refused to fill it and instead called the police department, which resulted in an investigation.

What they learned from the investigation was that Francis had allegedly electronically transmitted a number of prescriptions for oxycodone to pharmacies throughout Suffolk County using the names of former Below Deck yachties — none of whom lived in Long Island — and Jessica would then pick them up and pay in cash. Prosecutors allege that the prescriptions were never “intended for or received by the purported patients.”

As a result, the couple was arraigned and charged with four counts of criminal sale of prescription for a controlled substance by a practitioner — which are Class C felonies — and four counts of falsifying business records in the first degree — which are Class E felonies.

“By working with our law enforcement partners and the community, we identified two individuals who brazenly diverted controlled substances intended for medicinal purposes to the illegal drug market,” Frank Tarentino, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge, alleged in a release. “These arrests are a reminder that a doctor’s illicit drug diversion can lead to irreparable harm like the drug overdoses and poisonings currently plaguing our nation.”

The Martinis have pleaded not guilty, with their attorney calling the charges “bogus” and telling Entertainment Weekly that they “look forward to their day in court to clear their names.”