DEA Raids North Shore Office Of Celebrity Psychiatrist

NEWBURYPORT, MA — Agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration have executed a search warrant Thursday as part of an "ongoing investigation" at the Newburyport office of a psychiatrist who was a Fox contributor until 2017 but, more recently, has been the target of multiple complaints of inappropriate sexual activity with patients.

Agents were seen removing boxes and computer equipment from the office Thursday afternoon. They also reportedly visited the Daniel Lynch Pharmacy on High Street.

A DEA spokesperson confirmed that executed a search warrant at Ablow's office but declined further comment, including whether or not they had visited the Daniel Lynch Pharmacy. Patch has asked Ablow for comment and will update this story when if hear back from him.

Last May the Massachusetts Board of Registration indefinitely suspended Ablow's medical license, saying he posed an "immediate and serious threat to the public health, safety and welfare."

"The board alleges that Dr. Ablow engaged in sexual activity and boundary violations with multiple patients, diverted controlled substances from patients, engaged in disruptive behavior, including displaying and pointing a firearm on multiple occasions in a manner that scared an employee, and procured his license renewal fraudulently," the board said in a statement after it suspended his license.

Ablow was a Fox News contributor until 2017, and once drew criticism for his on-air suggestion that then-First Lady Michelle Obama needed "to drop a few pounds." In the past, he has been a proponent of the controversial drug Ketamine, even mentioning it on posts on his Twitter page. Those posts have since been removed.

"Ketamine is changing lives by defeating depression, often when no other treatment works," Ablow said in one of the posts on May 1, 2019.

Last summer, Ablow settled four lawsuits filed against him by former patients who accused him of sexual misconduct. Terms of the settlements, which were filed in Salem District Court, were not disclosed.

The settlements would let Ablow "focus his attention and resources on overturning the Board of Medicine's order of temporary suspension, so that he can restore his medical license and resume helping patients into the future, as he has countless times in the past," Paul Cirel, Ablow's attorney, said at the time.

Two women filed lawsuits against Ablow in February 2019 alleging he abused his position while treating them for depression. The lawsuits contained lurid details, including claims by one of the plaintiffs that Ablow hit her during sex and that another got a tattoo of his initials to show his "ownership" of the woman.

Those lawsuits followed a similar lawsuit was filed by a Salem woman against Ablow in July 2018, and an earlier case filed in 2016. When the July 2018 lawsuit was filed, Ablow denied the allegations. He claimed the woman, who was seeking $5 million in damages, omitted "certain key facts" when she filed her lawsuit.

"I categorically deny all the claims and look forward to being heard in court," he said in an email to Patch. Since then, he has not responded to requests for comment.

Together, the four lawsuits claimed that Ablow took advantage of women after gaining their trust. The lawsuits depict degrading sexual activities, some of which took place during sessions the woman were billed for. One woman claims Ablow said "I own you" and "You are my slave" while they were having sex.

At least three of the women claimed they moved to Massachusetts to be closer to his office, where he treated them with Ketamine.

Ablow, of Newburyport, has written 15 books and numerous articles, both for medical journals and mainstream publications. In 2007 his book Inside The Mind of Scott Peterson made the New York Times bestsellers list, catapulting his television career. Ablow hosted a short-lived, nationally syndicated talk show.

A 2012 commentary suggesting Newt Gingrich's three marriages made him more qualified to be president, followed by a commentary suggesting the 2012 World Cup was a plot by President Obama to distract Americans from scandals about the administration increased his profile and made him a regular fixture on Fox News Channel.

Last July, Ablow began promoting his consulting firm, Keith Ablow Creative, as a "boutique consulting company to writers, artists, inventors, entrepreneurs and thought leaders." He has also been promoting offering counseling, holistic remedies and an on-site cottage that clients can use as a private retreat.