EAST WINDSOR: County handling case of accused ‘dentist’

Pre-indictment conference set

By Doug Carman, Staff Writer
   EAST WINDSOR — The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office has taken over the case of a man who was arrested last month and accused of practicing dentistry without a license in an East Windsor apartment, even though no clients have been identified by the police.
   Prosecutor’s office spokeswoman Casey DeBlasio said Andriy Makaruha, who allegedly ran a makeshift dental office from a Brookwood Gardens apartment on Hickory Corner Road, is scheduled to have a pre-indictment conference at 9 a.m. March 30 at the Mercer County Criminal Courthouse, 209 S. Broad St. in Trenton. He faces indictable charges of practicing dentistry without a license and possession of a controlled dangerous substance, along with a disorderly persons charge of possession of hypodermic syringes in connection with the Feb. 14 arrest. Ms. DeBlasio said Mr. Makaruha has yet to appear before a grand jury.
   It was not clear if Mr. Makaruha lived in the East Windsor apartment where the alleged makeshift dental office was located. Listings for Mr. Makaruha show a Jamesburg residence. A number listed for that residence had been disconnected.
   During the week of Mr. Makaruha’s arrest, East Windsor Police Lt. Richard Bernstein said detectives were trying to locate Mr. Makaruha’s clients. However, the lieutenant said in an e-mail Wednesday that none had been identified.
   ”At this time there have been no clients identified and the investigation is closed with the charges previously listed,” Lt. Bernstein wrote.
   Ms. DeBlasio said she could not discuss whether the prosecutor’s office identified any clients during its investigation before the matter is addressed in court.
   Police previously claimed that they discovered numerous dental tools, equipment and anesthetics in Mr. Makaruha’s East Windsor apartment after a township Health Department official tipped them off. Police said that Mr. Makaruha told them he had operated the office for two months.
   Police said at the time that they suspected Mr. Makaruha never went to dental school.
   Ms. DeBlasio said the court records list Isabella Mayzel as Mr. Makaruha’s attorney. A clerk answering the phone for the Mayzel Law Group in Springfield speaking on Ms. Mayzel’s behalf said she was declining comment and would not confirm or deny the listing.