In a shocking display of greed and disregard for human life, Patrice Jackson (37, Bradenton) has been sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Charlene Honeywell, is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of prescription drug abuse.
According to court documents, Jackson was part of a fraudulent opiate prescription drug conspiracy that operated between August 2015 and August 2016. During this time, she and her co-conspirators agreed to dispense and distribute prescription opiates through a forged-prescription scheme. The scheme involved Lucretia Mullan and another staff member at a local pain management clinic, who forged prescriptions and sold them to Jackson.
Jackson would then take the forged prescriptions to nearby HP pharmacy in Pinellas Park, where pharmacy technician Jessica Evans would assist pharmacist Hong Truong in dispensing the prescription opiates. Jackson would then sell the opiates to others, mostly in the Sarasota area. The scope of the conspiracy was staggering, with the group responsible for obtaining at least 54 fraudulent prescriptions or 8,500 opiate tablets.
The investigation into the conspiracy was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit. The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit was created by the Department of Justice to help combat the devastating opioid crisis. The unit focuses specifically on opioid-related health care fraud, using data to identify and prosecute individuals contributing to the prescription opioid epidemic.
Co-conspirators Lucretia Mullan and Jessica Evans were previously sentenced to 20 months’ and 25 months’ imprisonment, respectively, for their roles in the scheme. Hong Truong’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 23, 2020. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Pizzo and Kelley Howard-Allen.
The sentence handed down to Patrice Jackson serves as a warning to those who would seek to profit from the opioid crisis. The Department of Justice is committed to holding individuals accountable for their role in perpetuating this epidemic. As the country continues to grapple with the devastating consequences of prescription drug abuse, cases like this serve as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and enforcement.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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