LI Doctor Charged With Selling Drugs In 54-Count Indictment

A Rockville Centre doctor was arraigned on a 54-count indictment today, charging him with selling opioid and amphetamine prescriptions to people without examining them.

George Blatti, 74, was charged with 22 counts of criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance, six counts of second-degree forgery, two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment, 22 counts of fourth-degree criminal diversion of prescription medications and prescriptions and two counts of second-degree reckless endangerment.

Blatti is due back in court on Nov. 26. If convicted of the top charge against him, he could face more than 59 years in prison.

“The defendant – a longtime doctor – allegedly wrote multiple prescriptions for dangerous opioids and amphetamines in exchange for cash,” said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline 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.”

According to Singas, the NCPD's Asset Forfeiture and Intelligence Unit began an investigation into several fatal and non-fatal opioid overdoses in August 2018. The investigation showed that several of the people had a large number of prescriptions for opioids written by George Blatti, Singas said. That prompted the police to start working with the DEA's Long Island District Office Tactical Diversion Squad.

Blatti has been licensed to practice medicine since 1976. He is a general practitioner with no specialized pain management training, Singas said. He had an office in Franklin Square in a former Radio Shack. Singas said that the office still had a Radio Shack sign out front and merchandise on the walls.

Singas said that Blatti met with customers at his office, as well as in a hotel parking lot and a Dunkin' Donuts in Rockville Centre.

"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 Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick 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."

At least five people who were addicted to opioids went to Blatti with "shopping lists" of drugs, which they were prescribed on demand in exchange for cash, Singas said. The buyers asked for specific drugs in specific quantities, and Blatti allegedly sold them the prescriptions without ever examining them, Singas said.

Some of the customers told Blatti about their addiction and even requested to be taken off the medicines, Singas said. Among the drugs prescribed by Blatti were Roxicodone, Methadone, Dilaudid and Adderall.

Blatti was arrested on April 18, 2019, and voluntarily surrendered his medical license on June 24.