Franklin Square doctor charged in drug ring

A Long Island doctor and former Valley Stream resident, 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 aboard was taxiing on the runway. Blackman, a former Valley Stream resident, has been under investigation for weeks for his involvement in illegally prescribing drugs in three states. 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.