October 30, 2019
Contact: Erin Mulvey
Phone Number: (212) 337-2906
Rockville Centre doctor indicted for allegedly selling opioid and amphetamine prescriptions
Dr. George Blatti charged in 54-count indictment; allegedly sold prescriptions for cash in hotel parking lot and Dunkin’ store
MINEOLA, N.Y. – DEA New York Division Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas and Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder announced today that a Rockville Centre doctor has been arraigned on a 54-count indictment charging him with allegedly selling large amounts of opioid and amphetamine prescriptions to multiple individuals without examining them.
George Blatti, 74, was arraigned today before Judge Fran Ricigliano on charges of:
- Twenty-two counts of criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance (a C felony)
- Six Counts of forgery in the second degree (a D felony)
- Two counts of reckless endangerment in the first degree (a D felony)
- Twenty-two counts of criminal diversion of prescription medications and prescriptions in the fourth degree (an A misdemeanor)
- Two counts of reckless endangerment in the second degree (an A misdemeanor)
Bail was continued at $50,000 bond or $25,000 cash and the defendant is due back in court on Nov. 26. If convicted of the top count, the defendant faces a potential maximum sentence of 14-2/3rd years to 59-2/3rd years.
“Today we arrested a doctor who practiced dangerous and illegal medicine,” said Special Agent in Charge Donovan. “The diversion of prescription medication has led to uncountable deaths and has paved a path to the emergence of counterfeit pills. Law enforcement is working tirelessly to identify those responsible for fueling opioid abuse and the methods traffickers employ; be it a cartel or a bad doctor.”
“The defendant – a longtime doctor – allegedly wrote multiple prescriptions for dangerous opioids and amphetamines in exchange for cash,” said District Attorney Singas. “Based on our investigation, Dr. George Blatti was not operating a legitimate medical practice, did not examine his customers and was selling scripts to drug-addicted individuals in parking lots across Nassau County. Thanks to an outstanding partnership with the Nassau County Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration, this defendant was arrested and will now face justice for his alleged crimes.”
“Today’s indictment of Dr. George Blatti sends a clear and concise message that Nassau County will not tolerate this type of pill pushing by doctors which is extremely dangerous to our residents and communities,” said Police Commissioner Ryder. “Defendant Blatti gave no consideration of an individual’s pain management or addiction history and selfishly for financial gain, abused his position which ultimately ruined many lives. I congratulate the investigators of the NCPD Asset Forfeiture Unit, the District Attorney’s Office and the DEA for their dedication and hard work to bring Defendant Blatti to justice.”
District Attorney Singas said that the Nassau County Police Department’s Asset Forfeiture and Intelligence Unit began an investigation into several opioid overdoses, both fatal and non-fatal, in August 2018. That investigation revealed that certain individuals had an inordinate number of prescriptions for opioids written by the same doctor, named George Blatti. At that time, NCPD began working jointly with members of the DEA’s Long Island District Office, Tactical Diversion Squad.
Blatti, a general practitioner originally licensed to practice medicine in 1976, had no specialized training or accreditation in pain management. He maintained an office in a Franklin Square location that used to be a Radio Shack. Notably, the business still had a Radio Shack sign and merchandise racks from Radio Shack on the walls.
According to the indictment, Blatti met customers at his Franklin Square office, in a hotel parking lot in Rockville Centre and at a Dunkin’ Donuts in Rockville Centre.
It is alleged that at least five customers, who were addicted to opioids, went to Blatti with what were essentially shopping lists and were prescribed drugs on demand. The defendant is alleged to have accepted cash from the buyers.
The buyers allegedly asked for drugs, in specific quantities, and were issued prescriptions by Blatti for those drugs – and in those quantities – without ever being examined or referred to specialists for their condition or were told to get further testing for their conditions.
Some of the customers allegedly told Blatti about their drug dependency issues and even requested to be taken off the medicines. Among the drugs prescribed by Blatti were Roxicodone, methadone, Dilaudid, and Adderall.
The defendant was arrested on April 18, 2019, by members of the NCPD Asset Forfeiture and Intelligence Unit, and the DEA LIDO TDS. The Long Island District Office Tactical Diversion Squad is comprised of agents and officers of the DEA, NCPD, Rockville Centre Police Department, Suffolk County Police Department, Port Washington Police Department and U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services – OIG.
Neither Radio Shack nor Dunkin’ Donuts are alleged to have known or participated in any of the alleged wrongdoing of the defendant.
The defendant voluntary surrendered his medical license to New York State authorities on June 24, 2019.
Senior Assistant District Attorneys Melissa Scannell of DA Singas’ Rackets and Enterprise Crime Bureau is prosecuting this case. The defendant is represented by Jeff Groder, Esq.
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