Paramedic Fraudulently Obtained Subscriptions, Charged with Prescription Drug Fraud
A paramedic who worked for a Columbia EMS company has been arrested and charged with prescription drug fraud.
Robert Allen Brazell, 42, worked for Vital Care Emergency Medical Services, which is an ambulance service that provides non-emergency medical transportation for patients in need of basic medical attention, such as between hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. A representative from Vital Care EMS said that Brazell was fired after his arrest.
Brazell was arrested for an incident on March 1 involving a Wal-Mart shopper. According to the complaint, he approached the shopper in the parking lot and asked her to fill his prescription of Ativan at the Wal-Mart pharmacy. Ativan is a narcotic used to control anxiety. The release from the Columbia police department stated that the shopper filled the prescription after Brazell told her it was for an acquaintance, and was seen on security footage handing the prescription over to him.
According to investigators, Brazell was on the job at the time of the prescription drug fraud.
As of Friday, March 29, 2013, Brazell had been released from the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center on bond. The Wal-Mart shopper has not been charged with a crime and is considered a victim.
Prescription Drug Fraud in South Carolina
The state of South Carolina has some of the toughest illegal drug penalties in the nation, including for prescription drug fraud. Whether the prescription abuse is due to addiction, normal pain management, or for profit, prescription drug fraud is a drug crime in South Carolina, and can lead to serious consequences, including imprisonment and the loss of a professional license.
- Common drugs targeted for prescription drug fraud include:
- Painkillers including Hydrocodone, Lortab, Oxycodone, Percocet, and Oxycontin
- Depressants such as Valium and Xanax
- Stimulants including Ritalin and Dexedrine
- Opioids including Codeine, Morphine, and Opium
- Steroids including Anadrol, Oxandrin, Durabolin, and Equipoise, as well as
- OTC drug abuse.
In 2006, the South Carolina General Assembly authorized DHEC’s plan to establish the South Carolina Reporting & Identification Prescription Tracking System (SCRIPTS). The program allows DHEC’s Bureau of Drug Control (BDC) to monitor prescriptions and dispensation of Schedule II, III, and IV drugs, which are some of the strongest and most addiction prescription drugs on the market, and are often the targets of prescription drug fraud. Pharmacists must register with SCRIPTS and give the BDC information including their dispenser information, the prescribing doctor’s DEA number, the date and quantity of drugs dispensed, and approximate number of days supplied. This allows the BDC to figure out if a patient is taking too much of an addictive medication, or gathering too many refills to sell the drugs.
The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Prescription Drug Fraud Charges in South Carolina
If you have been arrested for prescription drug fraud, you face stiff penalties and a ruined reputation. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm will investigate your case from every angle, determine whether an illegal search took place, and seek to have your prescription drug fraud charges reduced or even dismissed. Contact the prescription fraud attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC today for a free consultation to discuss the facts of your case. We will investigate your case from every angle, determine whether an illegal search took place and seek to have your charges reduced or even dismissed. 803.252.4800.
