Who: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Operations Bureau -Narcotics Division
What: Detectives arrested 23 suspects during “Operation Script Rip” that targeted a group responsible for filling approximately 417 fraudulent prescriptions at local pharmacies in Pinellas County. An additional 18 suspects are still being sought with more than 200 criminal charges.
When: “Operation Script Rip” began in August 2015 and is ongoing. Where: The fraudulent prescriptions were being called and faxed in from the Medical Home Doctors LLC located at 2198 15th Avenue South in St. Petersburg. The prescriptions were filled at various pharmacies in Pinellas County.
Why/How: Detectives arrested 23 suspects during “Operation Script Rip” that targeted a group responsible for filling approximately 417 fraudulent prescriptions at local pharmacies in Pinellas County. An additional 18 suspects are still being sought with more than 200 criminal charges.
The investigation began in August 2015, when narcotics detectives received information that 35-year-old Rakiah Darden was providing fraudulent prescriptions for Xanax to associates of hers. During the course of the investigation, detectives determined that Rakiah worked as a medical office assistant at Medical Home Doctors LLC located in St. Petersburg. During her employment there, Rakiah had complete access to the computer, fax machine, and the telephone in Dr. Jonadab Uzoho’s office.
Through various investigative techniques, detectives determined that Rakiah was calling in and faxing fraudulent prescriptions to local pharmacies under the doctor’s name without the doctor’s knowledge.
Detectives say that Rakiah’s brother, 26-year-old Rory Darden and three other criminal associates, 33-year-old Stephen Ford, 30-year-old Olympia Hines, and 23-year-old Fitzgerald Wright; recruited “runners” that went to the local pharmacies to pick up the Xanax prescriptions. Each prescription contained approximately 90, 2mg tablets.
After receiving the Xanax through fraudulent means, the “runners” returned the Xanax to Rakiah and her associates for cash or drugs. Rakiah and her associates then sold the Xanax illegally on the street.
Detectives estimate that Rakiah and her associates obtained approximately 37,410 total pills of Xanax, with an estimated street value of $5 a pill, totaling approximately $187,050 dollars. The suspects arrested during “Operation Script Rip” are listed below with their charges. They were all transported to the Pinellas County Jail. Additional arrests are forthcoming. The video of the press conference can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrB6cBfQmCY
The investigation continues. Rakiah F. Darden DOB: 9/17/1980 Address: 13435 Adams Circle, Apartment B265, Largo Charges: 19 counts- Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud, 1 count- Conspiracy to Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud, 1 count- Scheme to Defraud, 1 count of Unlawful Use of Two-Way Communication Device
Rory W. Darden DOB: 7/19/1989 Address: 4761 1st Avenue North, St. Petersburg Charges: 10 counts- Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud, 1 count- Scheme to Defraud, 1 count- Conspiracy to Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud, 1 count- Possession of Marijuana
Anthony R. Clark DOB: 6/4/92 Address: 7524 41st Street Avenue North, St. Petersburg Charges: 1 count- Obtain Controlled Substance by Fraud, 1 count Uttering Forged Instrument
Shayla S. Coleman DOB: 10/24/1988 Address: 1700 18th Street South, St. Petersburg Charges: 1 count- Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud
Shaniqua K. Milner DOB: 5/13/1986 Address: 4761 1st Avenue North, St. Petersburg Charges: 8 counts- Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud, 1 count- Scheme to Defraud
Avery B. McFadden DOB: 7/17/1992 Address: 6812 50th Avenue N., St. Petersburg Charges: 1 count- Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud, 1 count- Uttering Forged Instrument
Olympia A. Hines DOB: 6/21/1985 Address: 3427 39th Land South, St. Petersburg Charges: 9 counts- Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud, 1 count- Conspiracy to Obtain Alprazolam by fraud, 1 count- Scheme to Defraud
Bianca S. Stanard DOB: 3/12/1991 Address: 2100 40th Street South, Apartment #4, St. Petersburg Charges: 4 counts- Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud, 1 count- Uttering Forged Instrument, 1 count- Scheme to Defraud
Damarius S. Thompson DOB: 8/13/1992 Address: 2705 36th Avenue, St. Petersburg Charges: 3 counts- Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud, 1 count- Scheme to Defraud
Matthew Buchner DOB: 3/15/1992 Address: 6744 36th Avenue N, St. Petersburg Charges: 5 counts-Obtain Controlled Substance by Fraud, 1 count- Uttering a Forged Instrument, 1 count- Scheme to Defraud.
LaQuita J. Glenn DOB: 9/2/1990 Address: 4725 One Half 15th Avenue South, St. Petersburg Charges: 1 count- Obtain Controlled Substance by Fraud
Austin J. Harrison DOB: 11/9/1990 Address: 1759 26th Avenue North, St. Petersburg Charges: 1 count- Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud
Acacia R. Hazley DOB: 5/13/91 Address: 1102 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg Charges: 5 counts- Obtain a Controlled Substance by Fraud, 1 count- Uttering Forged Instrument, 1 count- Scheme to Defraud
William J. Lane DOB: 8/10/1962 Address: 6290 62nd Way, Pinellas Park Charges: 1 count- Obtain a Controlled Substance by Fraud
Crystal N. Lightner DOB: 4/9/1982 Address: 4710 25th Avenue South, St. Petersburg Charges: 4 counts- Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud, 1 count- Scheme to Defraud, 1 count- Vilation of Probation (Possession of Marijuana)
Rebecca L. Meyer DOB: 1/7/93 Address: 1671 67 Street North, Apartment #332, St. Petersburg Charges: 2 counts- Obtaining a Controlled Substance
Jasmine N. Mims DOB: 12/11/1993 Address: 2619 59th Avenue South, St. Petersburg Charges: 1 count- Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud
Holly M. Palm DOB: 12/19/91 Address: 12100 Seminole Boulevard, Lot # 389, Largo Charges: 2 counts- Obtain a Controlled Substance by Fraud, 1 count- Possession of Alprazolam, 1 count- Possession of Marijuana, 1 count- Disorderly Intoxication
Jordan Phillips DOB: 9/29/1990 Address: 2515 4th Avenue South, St. Petersburg Charges: 1 count- Obtaining a Controlled Substance, 1 count- Uttering a Check with Forged Endorsement
Novia M. Rojas DOB: 12/10/1989 Address: 4109 Haines Road North, St. Petersburg Charges: 1 count- Obtain Controlled Substance by Fraud, 1 count- Uttering a Forged Instrument
Donald J. Vinson- DOB: 2/2/1994 Address: 226 SSW Lincoln Circle, St. Petersburg Charges: 2 counts- Obtaining a Controlled Substance, 1 count- Uttering a Forged Instrument
Alexander T. Vo DOB: 12/16/1992 Address: 5590 90th Avenue North, Pinellas Park Charges: 2 counts- Obtain Controlled Substance by Fraud
Arika R. Walker DOB: 1/8/1983 Address: 5014 68th Way North, Apartment #2101, St. Petersburg Charges: 1 count- Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud
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