An elderly Staten Island doctor was arrested Tuesday in connection with a massive prescription drug scheme. Officials say Dr. Felix Lanting, 83, appeared in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn and was released on $100,000 bail for conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone. He did not enter a plea. Earlier Tuesday, FBI and NYPD agents conducted a raid at Lanting's joint home and office on Hunter Avenue in Grant City. Several boxes of evidence were removed. Prosecutors allege the doctor gave out more than 3,000 prescriptions in exchange for cash since April to various patients. Several of them are said to have received up to seven different prescriptions. "I did not sell Oxycodone. That is the wrong charge. I have no comment," Lanting said. Neighbors tell NY1 the area is known to be a drug hotspot and say they're relieved it's shut down. According to FBI Health Care Task Force officials, the arrest was part of an ongoing health care fraud probe. If convicted, Lanting faces up to 20 years in prison.

Be the first to comment