Sanji Francis Trial Postponed Again

Written by Joe Scotchie Friday, 19 February 2010 00:00

Feb. 22 Is New Date for Proceedings to Begin

The trial of Sanji Francis, the Melville doctor accused of selling prescription drugs to Massapequa area teenagers, has been adjourned again.

The trial was set to begin on Feb. 8. On that date, it was adjourned until Tuesday, Feb. 16.

The new date is now Monday, Feb. 22. The trial was adjourned this time because the defendant has a new attorney who himself was in court this past Tuesday. The trial will be held at the Supreme Court building in Mineola.

Prior to the Feb. 8 trial date, Janice Talento and Vicky Honohan, co-founders of Drug Free Massapequa, addressed a letter to the Hon. Stephen Jaeger, the Nassau County Court Judge who is overseeing the case. The purpose of the letter was to deny Dr. Francis a trial of judicial diversion.

According to Ms. Talento, up to 1,100 Massapequa residents have already mailed similar letters to Judge Jaeger, all asking that Dr. Francis not receive judicial diversion.

Ms. Talento added that whenever the trial does take place, up to 100 Massapequa residents on are hand to go to Mineola and attend the proceedings, all as a form of solidarity with the youth of Massapequa.

Arrest Details

On Dec. 8, 2009, Nassau County police arrested Francis and charged him with the criminal sale of prescriptions.

According to police, Francis did knowingly and unlawfully sell prescriptions of Oxycodone (a schedule II controlled substance) to another on nine different dates, from Aug. 1 to Dec. 8 of 2009. Francis, detectives added, received anywhere from $480 - $600 for the prescriptions.

More specifically, Francis was charged with nine counts of Criminal Sale Prescription (C Felony) and was arraigned on Wednesday, Dec. 9 in First District Court, Hempstead.