Mother-Son Duo Arrested for Medication Fraud
Mother-Son Duo Arrested for Medication Fraud
Texas authorities uncovered an alleged prescription fraud case involving a hospital nurse and his mother. Both individuals face charges of fraudulent intent to obtain controlled substances.
Authorities have arrested a mother and son after the son, an employee at a hospital, allegedly wrote prescriptions for his mother to a local pharmacy to be filled. Christine Denise Smith and Jason Christopher Schobert were arrested by police for alleged prescription medication fraud.
According to the arrest warrants, in January 2023, Special Agents from the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division, conducted an investigation after they discovered fraudulent prescriptions had allegedly been called into a Wichita Falls pharmacy by Schobert on Nov. 14, 2022. Three medications, Alprazolam, Tramadol, and Testosterone Cypionate.
The alleged prescription fraud was discovered by a doctor while reviewing a patient’s prescription history. When questioned, the patient, later identified as Smith, said she had gone to a hospital and was prescribed the medications.
A doctor at the hospital said Smith was never seen at the hospital, and he did not prescribe or give permission to prescribe the medication.
According to the arrest warrant, Schobert was employed at a hospital at the time and the patient, Smith, was later discovered to be Schobert’s mother.
During a post-Miranda interview, Schobert denied calling in the prescriptions but admitted to picking them up from the pharmacy and giving them to Smith. He said Smith knew the medications were obtained using fraudulent prescriptions.
The investigation also discovered Smith enlisted two other individuals to obtain additional amounts of controlled substance refills. Both Smith and Schobert were charged with fraudulent intent to obtain controlled substances.
The Arkansas State Board of Nursing has also ordered Schobert, who holds a Texas RN Multistate License, to immediately cease and desist from the practice of nursing in Arkansas. This action comes after the respondent’s employment was terminated due to evidence of controlled substance activity, including missing and mishandling drugs. The respondent tested positive for fentanyl in a drug screen, leading to the involuntary termination.
Where the Diversion Occurred:
Baptist Health
Wichita Falls, TX, USA
Type of Healthcare Facility:
Hospital
Person Diverting:
Jason Christopher Schobert
Profession of the person diverting:
Nurse
Has the incident been reported?
e.g. to local law enforcement, county board of health, state licensure board, and/or federal DEA or FDA authorities?
Yes
To whom has the incident been reported?
Licensure Board, e.g., Board of Nursing, Board of Pharmacy, Medical Board, etc.
