Pharmacist pleads guilty to obtaining drugs by fraud
Pharmacist pleads guilty to obtaining drugs by fraud
They obtained 47 prescriptions in the names of at least five dogs at the clinic operated by his girlfriend written by a veterinarian who worked there.
Ryan Lowry Patrick, 34, of Gray, Tennessee, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to one count of obtaining drugs by fraud and one count of using the registration number of another in the course of acquiring a controlled substance.
He worked at Rite Aid in Saltville and was accused of filling prescriptions in the names of at least five dogs that belonged to Patrick and his girlfriend using her veterinary clinic in Bluff City, Tennessee. The prescriptions were written by a veterinarian who worked at the veterinary clinic operated by Bailey’s girlfriend.
A review by the DEA of the Virginia Prescription Monitoring Program confirmed that between January 7, 2019 and December 29, 2019 approximately 47 prescriptions were filled in the names of the five dogs. All of these prescriptions were allegedly issued or authorized by the veterinarian. Agents with the DEA reviewed records at the Saltville Rite Aid and were unable to trace the origins of the prescriptions listed in the PMP.
He faces up to four years in prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
Approximate date(s) of the diversion:
01/07/2019
Where the Diversion Occurred:
Saltville, VA
Type of Healthcare Facility:
Hospital
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?
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
