Agents Investigate Oahu Dentist In Prescription Drug Case

WAHIAWA, Hawaii -- Authorities are investigating a prominent Wahiawa dentist about allegations he asked patients to buy him powerful pain-killing drugs.

Dr. Jay Cambra continues to practice while the state considers charges against him.

Cambra moved from Mililani to Wahiawa after his Mililani office was raided by state agents last year. The investigation began after one of his patients was caught with illegal prescription drugs and he turned in the doctor.

Cambra is a former member of the Board of Dental Examiners and former president of the board of the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

The investigation of Cambra began after a patient named Jonathan Twidwell was charged with getting the same painkiller prescription from two doctors. He said Cambra had written one of them, but asked his patient to bring the pills back to him.

An attorney for Cambra's former patient said state drug enforcement agents wired him up for two meetings with Cambra and later raided his office in Mililani. The attorney said they found evidence the doctor was stockpiling drugs from as many as a half-dozen of his patients.

Investigators pulled Cambra's federal license to prescribe narcotics, but because he has not been charged or convicted he still has his state dental license and continues to practice dentistry in Wahiawa. That is not unusual in prescription drug cases.

Dr. Declan Devereux, who state agents arrested two years ago, went to rehab and saved his practice. A judge agreed that if Devereux stayed clean five years he will never have a criminal record. Devereux hopes to keep his license and even get back his power to prescribe narcotics.

Cambra did not say anything more about the investigation against him. His patients said he is a good dentist and that they were shocked he was under investigation.

Prosecutors and investigators said they could not comment because charges are still pending.