NEW YORK, NY February 10, 2009 —A doctor on Staten Island has pleaded not guilty to charges he illegally prescribed steroids to weight lifters and body builders, and steered his clients to a Brooklyn pharmacy, in exchange for kickbacks.

Doctor Richard Lucente's lawyer , John Meringolo, calls the charges "absurd."

LUCENTE: These are serious allegations for a doctor who has helped the community who has helped people he has saved peoples lives. Now the Kings County DA wants to come in here and trump up these charges, its just, its actually absurd what they've done here today.

REPORTER: Among the charges facing Doctor Lucente is that of reckless endangerment, for the death of body builder Joe Baglio.

Brooklyn district attorney Charles Hynes says Baglio had had a heart transplant, and died of heart failure after receiving steroids from Doctor Lucente.

Hynes would not comment on whether NYPD officers were clients of Lucente's.

19 officers' names appeared in the records of the Bay Ridge pharmacy where the doctor allegedly sent his clients for their steroid prescriptions.