Local pharmacy reports fraudulent prescriptions

COLFAX – On Tuesday, March 7, Whitman County Deputies took an individual into custody on charges of prescription fraud.

A press release from Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers states that the case started a day earlier when a local pharmacy called to report an incident in which someone called in a prescription for a narcotic, using a Spokane area physician's name and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) number.

Since the narcotic was called in and was from an out of area physician, the pharmacist called to verify the validity of the prescription.

During the phone conversation the pharmacist learned the physician's DEA number had been compromised over the past few days at pharmacies throughout the region and the prescription was invalid, states the report.

The Sheriff's Office has identified at least two pharmacies in Whitman County that the same DEA number was fraudulently used to try and obtain controlled substances.

The report states that a second individual is believed to be involved and will likely face similar charges.

The DEA was contacted by the Sheriff's Office, and will follow up on the investigation.