Franklin Square doctor charged in drug ring

Dr. Noel Blackman prescribed 365,000 oxycodone pills in 2015, officials said

Posted

Update 2:23 Feb. 9

A Long Island doctor, with offices in Franklin Square, was arrested on Sunday night for allegedly prescribing vast amounts of oxycodone throughout 2015, federal authorities said.

According to Newsday, Noel Blackman, 68, was taken into custody by officials at Kennedy Airport as the Guyana bound plane he was abroad was taxiing on the runway. Blackman has been under investigation for weeks for his involvement with illegally prescribing drugs in three states, officials said. According to authorities, Blackman prescribed 365,000 oxycodone pills last year.

While searching the doctor, authorities also uncovered $30,000 in his luggage, officials said. Blackman was arraigned on Monday night in Central Islip federal court on the charge of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.

Hope Medical of New York, Blackman's Franklin Square office at 907 Hempstead Turnpike, has not been open for weeks.

In early December, residents noticed people waiting outside of the office at late hours of the night and contacted police and government officials, including Assemblyman Ed Ra, a republican from Franklin Square.

On Dec. 9, Ra informed the public on the status of the building, as he was in contact with the Town Of Hempstead and the Nassau County Police.

"Both visited the premises," Ra wrote on the Facebook page "Franklin Square News, Schools and Views". "The Town of Hempstead served summonses for three building violations."

Ra added that he along with the authorities would continue to monitor the situation.