Oak Park doctor pleads guilty to illegally distributing $2 million worth of prescription pills

Jennifer Frankllin admits to illegal distribution of $2 million in oxycodone

OAK PARK, Mich. – A physician from Oak Park pleaded guilty Wednesday to writing illegal prescriptions for oxycodone, United State Attorney Dnaiel L. Lemich announced Thursday.

Jennifer Frankllin, 40, of Harrison Township, admitted to conspiring with Boris Zigmond to prescribe medically unnecessary oxycodone from late 2013 to April 2015.

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"More people die from overdoses of prescription drugs in America than from overdoses of all other drugs combined," Lemisch said. "We hope that prosecuting the doctors who are putting these drugs on the streets will deter others from contributing to this epidemic."

Franklin said she earned around $200,000 from the scheme, Lemich said. She said the street value of the oxycodone she prescribed without justification exceeded $2 million.

Zigmond, Dr. Carlos Godoy and six others previously pleaded guilty in the conspiracy.

"It is unfortunate that greed and the desire for financial gain overpowers a physician’s Hippocratic Oath to use treatment to help the sick, but never with a view to injury and wrong-doing," IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Manny Muriel said. "The medically unnecessary prescribing of oxycodone continues to be a contributing factor to the opioid epidemic that is facing Michigan. IRS and its partners will continue to work to identify those who look to gain financial reward from medically unnecessary prescriptions."

Franklin, Zigmond and Godoy could receive a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison as part of their plea agreements.

Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 18.


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Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.