icollect
July 21st, 2005, 04:58 PM
There is a task force in Florida now. It has one job, shutting down Pharmacies. For those of you that haven't read the law, Please do now!
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<TD vAlign=top align=left>Jul 21, 2005 </TD></TR></DISPLAY_DATE><SOURCE_NAME>
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<TD vAlign=top align=left>Frontline Solutions </TD></TR></SOURCE_NAME></T></T></TABLE></TD>
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July 21, 2005 -- In Florida's largest state prosecution concerning illegal Internet drug distribution, federal and state agents arrested nine subjects from an operation involving unauthorized orders for powerful painkillers and other medications.
The arrests were the culmination of Operation Backroom, a nine-month investigation by the Miami-area drug diversion response team (DRT). This task force, established in 2004, includes representatives from DEA, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the state Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Office of Statewide Prosecution, and the Florida Department of Health.
Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist said "Internet pill pushers operate without regard to the law or medical necessity, and certainly without regard to safety. Their primary focus is on making a quick buck. There is no place in Florida for these kind of drug dealers, and the Diversion Response Team has done an outstanding job of shutting down this operation."
The subjects were arrested for trafficking in hydrocodone; racketeering; conspiracy to traffic in hydrocodone; dispensing prescription drugs without a pharmacist license; dispensing without a prescription; forgery of a prescription drug label; sale of an adulterated or misbranded drug, and adulterating a drug intended for distribution.
According to the DEA, the operation involved more than $10 million worth of Internet drug orders since late 2003. The group operated several licensed and unlicensed locations throughout Miami-Dade County, Florida, to fill Internet orders unaccompanied by legitimate prescriptions. The majority of the drug distributions were for Schedule III controlled substance hydrocodone, but also included alprazolam, phentermine and other prescription drugs.
DEA estimates that each of the operation's locations filled at least 2,000 orders per week. Investigators found no valid prescriptions for filled Internet orders. In some instances, the only requirement imposed on the customer was completion of an Internet questionnaire. Among the websites used for this purpose were www.RxHotdeals.com and www.JetsRX.com.
This investigation identified some 14 pharmacies involved with the drug trafficking activities. More than 650,000 pharmaceutical tablets have been seized by members of the DRT. Law enforcement authorities have also obtained the forfeiture of more than $2.2 million in cash and property. Of the 14 pharmacies licensed with DEA and identified in this organization, eight have been closed administratively and three have voluntarily surrendered their DEA licenses.
The DRTs were formed in July 2004, following legislative authorization. Teams cur
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<TD vAlign=top align=left>Jul 21, 2005 </TD></TR></DISPLAY_DATE><SOURCE_NAME>
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<TD vAlign=top align=left>Frontline Solutions </TD></TR></SOURCE_NAME></T></T></TABLE></TD>
<TD align=right><SOURCE_LOGO_NAME>
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<TD align=left>< = src="/frontline/sitewide/js/spacing.js"></> < = src="/frontline/sitewide/js/articlepopwin.js"></>
July 21, 2005 -- In Florida's largest state prosecution concerning illegal Internet drug distribution, federal and state agents arrested nine subjects from an operation involving unauthorized orders for powerful painkillers and other medications.
The arrests were the culmination of Operation Backroom, a nine-month investigation by the Miami-area drug diversion response team (DRT). This task force, established in 2004, includes representatives from DEA, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the state Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Office of Statewide Prosecution, and the Florida Department of Health.
Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist said "Internet pill pushers operate without regard to the law or medical necessity, and certainly without regard to safety. Their primary focus is on making a quick buck. There is no place in Florida for these kind of drug dealers, and the Diversion Response Team has done an outstanding job of shutting down this operation."
The subjects were arrested for trafficking in hydrocodone; racketeering; conspiracy to traffic in hydrocodone; dispensing prescription drugs without a pharmacist license; dispensing without a prescription; forgery of a prescription drug label; sale of an adulterated or misbranded drug, and adulterating a drug intended for distribution.
According to the DEA, the operation involved more than $10 million worth of Internet drug orders since late 2003. The group operated several licensed and unlicensed locations throughout Miami-Dade County, Florida, to fill Internet orders unaccompanied by legitimate prescriptions. The majority of the drug distributions were for Schedule III controlled substance hydrocodone, but also included alprazolam, phentermine and other prescription drugs.
DEA estimates that each of the operation's locations filled at least 2,000 orders per week. Investigators found no valid prescriptions for filled Internet orders. In some instances, the only requirement imposed on the customer was completion of an Internet questionnaire. Among the websites used for this purpose were www.RxHotdeals.com and www.JetsRX.com.
This investigation identified some 14 pharmacies involved with the drug trafficking activities. More than 650,000 pharmaceutical tablets have been seized by members of the DRT. Law enforcement authorities have also obtained the forfeiture of more than $2.2 million in cash and property. Of the 14 pharmacies licensed with DEA and identified in this organization, eight have been closed administratively and three have voluntarily surrendered their DEA licenses.
The DRTs were formed in July 2004, following legislative authorization. Teams cur