L.I. Doc Sentenced For Illegal Sale Of Prescription Drugs
MINEOLA, N.Y. (1010 WINS/CBS 2) -- A Long Island doctor convicted of selling prescription drugs for cash from his office across the street from Massapequa High School was sentenced Thursday.
Dr. Saji Francis, 50, was given 6 months in jail and five years probation after he admitted to Criminal Sale of a Prescription for a Controlled Substance.
LISTEN: 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reports
Some, including Teri Kroll, called Francis a "monster" and a "murderer." Kroll's son, Timothy, died after getting hooked on drugs at the age of 18. He purchased prescriptions for oxycodone from Francis.
Kroll's father, Frank, said Francis was partly to blame for his son's addiction and eventual death at the age of 23.
"Francis was involved with the death of my son and other sons and daughters to come," he told 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera, "so his crime is going to be haunting us for a long time."
Francis was arrested in December of 2009 and pleaded guilty in July to 9 felonies of selling prescriptions, CBS 2's John Slattery reported. He was not charged in any deaths.
Francis was turned in by Timothy Kroll, Rivera reported, and his mother said she is glad the doctor is going to prison despite believing the sentence was too light.
"Timothy reported Saji Francis and because of Timothy, that's why he was caught," Teri Kroll said, "otherwise he'd still be selling drugs to kids."
Francis, who lost his medical license, apologized in court and said he had his own drug addiction and mental health problems while he was selling the drugs.
