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Drug-Trafficking Ring Stole Doctors' Identities

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Sep 26, 2008 11:31 am US/Pacific

Drug-Trafficking Ring Stole Doctors' Identities

POMONA

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: The suspects allegedly stole the identities of eight doctors, as well as dozens of unwitting people whom they designated as "patients" in order to get the pills.
AP

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Seven people were arrested on suspicion of being part of a drug-trafficking ring in Pomona that stole the identities of doctors to gain access to addictive drugs such as Oxycontin and Vicodin, Attorney General Jerry Brown announced Friday.

The suspects, arrested Thursday, allegedly used fraudulent prescriptions to get for more than 11,000 pills.

The alleged ringleader, Ricky Washington, was arrested yesterday, along with Josalyn Morales, Beverly Carter, Richard West, Danesha Bentley, Natassha Diaz, and Phylicia Mitchell, by agents with the California Department of Justice's Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.

The suspects allegedly stole the identities of eight doctors, as well as dozens of unwitting people whom they designated as "patients" in order to get the pills.

"Prescription drug fraud is becoming a street crime problem and is growing more and more prevalent in California," Brown said in a statement.

"What we're finding now is that it's no longer individual addicts obtaining a few prescription drugs," Brown said. "There are dangerous criminals running these underground organizations."

The suspects face possible charges including transportation of a controlled substance, possession for sale of a controlled substance, obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and conspiracy.

The investigation began in August, 2007, when authorities focused their attention on Washington, who had previous drug-trafficking arrests, according to the Attorney General's Office.