A Pottsville man is facing charges for being a part of a prescription drug schemeHARRISBURG - Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane today announced charges against 12 in a prescription drug scheme in which Dr. David Wait wrote more than 400 fraudulent prescriptions of mostly oxycodone, a highly-addictive narcotic law enforcement believe to be a gateway to heroin addiction. Dr. Wait was charged in December for selling prescriptions in exchange for cash.
All 12 charged today obtained numerous fraudulent prescriptions from Dr. Wait; many were not his patients and some had never even met the doctor, according to the grand jury. The prescriptions were filled at dozens of pharmacies in Dauphin, Cumberland, Lebanon, Perry, York and Allegheny counties.
The grand jury found that Dr. Wait believed if the people to whom he sold prescriptions made money off them, he should too.
Attorney General Kane thanked the Pennsylvania State Police, Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General for their assistance with the investigation.
The defendants, listed below, are expected to turn themselves in at Dauphin County Booking Center at 11 a.m.
--Jerry Burrall, 24, 719 Hummel Ave., Lemoyne, Cumberland County, is charged with one count of obtaining/possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge and one count of delivery of a controlled substance.
--Gina Swartz, 47, 223 Pennsylvania Ave., Enola, Cumberland County, is charged with two counts of obtaining/possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge.
--Thomas Carricato, 52, 75 N. Harrisburg St., Harrisburg, Dauphin County, is charged with three counts of obtaining/possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge.
The following are charged with one count of obtaining/possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge:
- Neil Alexander, 30, 208 E. Church Ave., Masontown, Fayette County.
- Nicholas Brown, 33, 511 Spruce St., Pottsville, Schuylkill County.
- Robin Clark, 50, 45 Troy St., Canton, Bradford County.
- Clayton Foster, 26, 256 S. 19th St., Harrisburg, Dauphin County.
- Joseph Mitchell, 32, 100 Mitchell Road, Newport, Perry County.
- Sean Reiley, 24, 110 Chicory Drive, Palmyra, Lebanon County.
- Nicholas Sexton, 20, 641 N. 2nd St., Wormleysburg, Cumberland County.
- Ashlee Shull, 22, 6216 Pine St., Harrisburg, Dauphin County.
- Carlos Soto, 50, 29 S. Park Ave. Trooper, Montgomery County.
The cases will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Bob Smulktis of the Attorney General's Drug Strike Force Section.
Individuals who have witnessed a drug deal in their neighborhood or suspect illegal drug activity where they live or work can send an anonymous tip to the Office of Attorney General by texting PADRUGS + YOUR TIP to 847411.
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| Photo of Nicholas Brown |