Dr. Ricardo Cruciani, 63, (shown above in his Philadelphia mugshot from last year) was arrested on Tuesday on multiple rape charges in New York
An Ivy League-trained neurologist previously convicted for groping seven female patients has been arrested for repeatedly raping women he treated over a period of several years.
Dr. Ricardo Cruciani, 63, was arrested at his Pennsylvania home on Tuesday and is expected to be arraigned in New York on Wednesday on four rape charges, three criminal sexual abuse charges, seven charges of a criminal sex act against a victim who was incapable of consent and one of aggravated sexual abuse.
One of the alleged victims is Hillary Tullin, a former patient who was among the women who complained about him last year.
She agreed to be named and said it was time for her alleged rapist to be put behind bars.
In November, Cruciani was convicted of sexual misconduct but escaped jail after admitting to groping seven women while treating them in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.
He had been working at Drexel University in Pennsylvania and at Beth Israel Medical Center PAI in New York City.
Tullin was among 20 others who reported him to police last year.
The NYPD had been investigating since his case in Philadelphia closed and police in New Jersey are also looking into claims from other women.
‘I don’t know that he’s going to go gently into the good night, but I’m very hopeful,’ Tullin said, adding that she testified before a grand jury two weeks ago.
‘He needs to be locked up.’
Jeffrey Fritz, a lawyer who is representing the women, told DailyMail.com that they were happy with his arrest which could finally result in him being put behind bars.
‘The general consensus is that they were disappointed that he did not receive a real punishment, ie jail time, in Philadelphia,’ he said.
‘We hope the New Jersey police also continue their investigation.
Cruciani, 63, is shown above leaving court in Philadelphia with his wife Nora in November. Despite admitting groping seven female patients, he was given a probation sentence. The NYPD has been investigating the women’s allegations ever since and arrested him on Tuesday
Cruciani (pictured hailing a cab with his wife after his guilty plea last year) apologized for groping the women at his sentencing hearing last year where he was given seven years probation. He has not commented on the rape allegations
Cruciani worked at Mount Sinai Beth Israel hospital in Union Square in Manhattan
In November, Cruciani was sentenced to serve seven years probation.
He was told he must give up his license and register as a sex offender.
During his sentencing, he apologized for the pain he had caused victims.
The women all said they felt trapped when he began abusing them while treating them for rare, debilitating brain conditions.
One woman was pregnant when she said he began abusing her by touching her breasts.
Others said he masturbated in front of them and that he tried to force her to touch his genitals.
Cruciani was fired from Drexel University following his conviction last yea,.
Mount Sinai Beth Israel, where he worked in New York, did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment on Wednesday morning.
Cruciani was fired by Drexel University in Philadelphia (above) after his conviction last year