Pinellas Sheriff Makes 23 Arrests in “Operation Script Rip,” Expects More to Come
Pinellas County sheriff’s deputies arrested 23 suspects during “Operation Script Rip,” an investigation that targeted a group responsible for filling approximately 417 fraudulent prescriptions at local pharmacies. An additional 18 suspects are still being sought with more than 200 criminal charges.
PINELLAS COUNTY – Sheriff’s deputies here have charged 23 St. Petersburg, Largo and Pinellas Park residents with filling fraudulent prescriptions.
More arrests are expected, according to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri. Deputies are searching for 18 more who have committed more than 200 crimes.
The arrests came as a result of “Operation Script Rip,” an investigation that began in August 2015 when narcotics detectives received information that 35-year-old Rakiah Darden of Largo was providing fraudulent prescriptions for Xanax to associates of hers.
During the course of the investigation, detectives determined that Darden worked as a medical office assistant at Medical Home Doctors LLC, 2198 15th Ave. S in St. Petersburg. During her employment there, Darden had complete access to the computer, fax machine, and the telephone in Dr. Jonadab Uzoho’s office. Deputies learned that Darden was calling in and faxing fraudulent prescriptions to local pharmacies under the doctor’s name without the doctor’s knowledge.
Detectives say that Darden’s brother, 26-year-old Rory Darden and three others, 33-year-old Stephen Ford, 30-year-old Olympia Hines, and 23-year-old Fitzgerald Wright, recruited “runners” who went to local pharmacies to pick up the Xanax prescriptions. Each prescription contained about 90 tablets that were 2 mg each, deputies said.
Deputies said the “runners” returned the Xanax to Darden and her associates for cash or drugs. Daren and her associates then sold the Xanax illegally on the street.
Detectives estimate that Darden and her associates obtained about 37,410 total Xanax pills, which have an estimated street value of $5 a pill. The total value of the pills was about $187,050.
They were all transported to the Pinellas County Jail. Additional arrests are forthcoming, deputies said.
The suspects arrested during “Operation Script Rip”:
Rakiah F. Darden, 35
13435 Adams Circle, Apt. 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, 26
4761 1st Ave. N, 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, 23
7524 41st Ave. N, St. Petersburg
Charges: 1 count- Obtain Controlled Substance by Fraud; 1 count Uttering Forged Instrument
Shayla S. Coleman, 27
1700 18th St. S, St. Petersburg
Charges: 1 count- Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud
Shaniqua K. Milner, 29
4761 1st Ave. N, St. Petersburg
Charges: 8 counts- Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud; 1 count- Scheme to Defraud
Avery B. McFadden, 23
6812 50th Ave. N, St. Petersburg
Charges: 1 count- Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud; 1 count- Uttering Forged Instrument
Olympia A. Hines, 30
3427 39th Land S, 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, 25
2100 40th St. S, Apt. #4, St. Petersburg
Charges: 4 counts- Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud; 1 count- Uttering Forged Instrument; 1 count- Scheme to Defraud
Damarius S. Thompson, 23
2705 36th Ave., St. Petersburg
Charges: 3 counts- Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud; 1 count- Scheme to Defraud
Matthew Buchner, 24
6744 36th Ave. 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, 25
4725 1/2 15th Ave. S, St. Petersburg
Charges: 1 count- Obtain Controlled Substance by Fraud
Austin J. Harrison, 25
1759 26th Ave. N, St. Petersburg
Charges: 1 count- Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud
Acacia R. Hazley, 24
1102 13th Ave. S, St. Petersburg
Charges: 5 counts- Obtain a Controlled Substance by Fraud; 1 count- Uttering Forged Instrument; 1 count- Scheme to Defraud
William J. Lane, 53
6290 62nd Way, Pinellas Park
Charges: 1 count- Obtain a Controlled Substance by Fraud
Crystal N. Lightner, 34
4710 25th Ave. S, 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, 23
1671 67 St. N, Apt. #332, St. Petersburg
Charges: 2 counts- Obtaining a Controlled Substance
Jasmine N. Mims, 22
2619 59th Avenue South, St. Petersburg
Charges: 1 count- Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud
Holly M. Palm, 24
12100 Seminole Blvd., 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, 25
2515 4th Ave. S, St. Petersburg
Charges: 1 count- Obtaining a Controlled Substance; 1 count- Uttering a Check with Forged Endorsement
Novia M. Rojas, 26
4109 Haines Road N, St. Petersburg
Charges: 1 count- Obtain Controlled Substance by Fraud; 1 count- Uttering a Forged Instrument
Donald J. Vinson, 22
226 SW Lincoln Circle, St. Petersburg
Charges: 2 counts- Obtaining a Controlled Substance; 1 count- Uttering a Forged Instrument
Alexander T. Vo, 23
5590 90th Ave. N, Pinellas Park
Charges: 2 counts- Obtain Controlled Substance by Fraud
Arkia R. Walker, 33
5014 68th Way N, Apt. #2101, St. Petersburg
Charges: 1 count- Obtain Alprazolam by Fraud
For information about the Pinellas County sheriff, go to pcsoweb.com.
Photographs and charts courtesy of the Pinellas County sheriff.
Pinellas Sheriff | Drug Bust | Operation Script Rip | Crime | TB Reporter
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