Long Island doctor charged with peddling pain pills

A Long Island pain management doctor has been charged with selling thousands of painkiller prescriptions.
Dr. Ernesto Lopez, of Franklin Square, was in federal court yesterday.
Prosecutors say Lopez and two of his employees peddled prescriptions out of offices in Franklin Square, Manhattan and Queens.
Lopez is accused of writing thousands of prescriptions for oxycodone and fentanyl patches in exchange for cash. The U.S. attorney says Dr. Lopez made around $2 million while directly contributing to the opioid epidemic.
Nassau County police and the DA's office announced today that they've arrested 14 additional people for allegedly paying Dr. Lopez for prescriptions, filling them and then reselling the oxycodone for nearly $30 a pill.
Among those arrested were husband and wife Eric and Christine Fortmeyer, of North Bellmore. Police say the couple was getting pills from Dr. Lopez and also making THC oil from marijuana and then putting it into vaping oil for e-cigarettes and injecting it into gummy bears. Police say the Fortmeyers were running their drug lab in their garage and basement. The couple has a 17-year old daughter and 11-year old son.
Christine Fortmeyer was released without having to post bail and was home this afternoon but wouldn't talk to News 12 Long Island. Prosecutors say it was a profitable business for the Fortmeyers. High-end cars were seized from outside their home on Hazel Street in North Bellmore. Neighbors say they never suspected anything was going on.