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FORMER VA PHARMACIST GUILTY OF PRESCRIPTION

FRAUD -- Used his position as a pharmacist at the

VA to gain access to the drug dispensing

machines and to obtain morphine sulfate.

 

 

Story here... http://www.journal-news.net/
News/articles.asp?articleID=8920

Story below:

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Ex-VA pharmacist guilty of prescription fraud

By EDWARD MARSHALL / Journal Staff Writer

MARTINSBURG — A former pharmacist for the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Martinsburg pleaded guilty last Thursday to a federal prescription fraud charge accusing him of using his position to illegally obtain morphine.

Andrew McDonald, 50, of Inwood specifically pled guilty to one count of an information charging him with obtaining controlled substances by fraud.

According to a news release issued by the office of Sharon Potter, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia, McDonald used his position as a pharmacist at the VA Center to gain access to the drug dispensing machines and to obtain morphine sulfate, a controlled substance, for himself.

The incidents occurred from March 1, 2004 to Jan. 20, 2006.

McDonald agreed to plead guilty as part of a plea agreement. He pleaded guilty before federal Magistrate Judge David J. Joel.

McDonald, who is currently free on bond pending sentencing, faces a maximum of four years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Barbara Corbin, a public relations officer with the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Martinsburg, said Tuesday she was unaware how long McDonald had worked at the hospital.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul T. Camilletti, and was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General, Northeast Field Office; Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, Metro Washington Field Office; Veterans Administration Police; Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Control; and the West Virginia Pharmacy Board.



— Staff writer Edward Marshall can be reached at (304) 263-8931, ext. 215, or emarshall@journal-new.net

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Larry Scott  --