Posted on: November 03, 2017 09:00 AM

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Doctor arrested out of his home in Flushing

Ernesto Lopez, 74 of Flushing was taken into custody after search warrant was issued on Thursday, November 2 at his home in Flushing. Authorities reported Lopez was operating three clinics, Jackson Heights, Franklin Square and Manhattan where he was writing illegal prescriptions for oxycodone pills and fentanyl patches. Along with Lopez, Audra Baker, 49 of Manhattan, a staff and Sharon Washington-Bhamre, 52 of Rochelle Park were arrested and both were charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substance. The investigation started in 2015 until their arrest when Lopez was distributing both drugs in the excess of $2 million dollars. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reported over 8,000 prescriptions were forged without check-ups on patients. During each visit by patients, Lopez charged between $200 to $300 for prescription and bogus check-ups. Also, some of the patients were selling to drug dealers who then distributed to streets. All three were arraigned. pic from DEA.