Detectives wrap up fraudulent prescription drug operation with 28 arrests

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. - Detectives in Pinellas County have arrested 28 people for allegedly using fraudulent prescriptions to obtain prescription drugs at area pharmacies.

The investigation started back in June 2009 and was dubbed "Operation Spring Hill" because a large number of the suspects live in Spring Hill of Hernando County.

A local pharmacist reported last year that he received a fraudulent prescription for Oxycodone from a person living in Spring Hill, authorities said. The pharmacist said he noticed he was receiving more and more prescriptions from a physician located in Spring Hill.

Investigators said all the prescriptions authorized by the physician were produced on a computer. They identified 13 more suspects and reported that some of the prescriptions were written for Oxycodone, Xanax, and Methadone.

Detectives reported that Seminole Drugs filled hundreds of these fake prescriptions originating from Spring Hill.
Based on the prescriptions obtained from Seminole Drugs and other pharmacies in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, investigators said they identified 66 suspects who used the names of 26 different physicians to pass hundreds of fake prescriptions.

A roundup of the suspects began July 5th and the investigation continues.

In addition to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, Hernando County Sheriff's Office and Florida Department of Law Enforcement also participated in the operation.