Waschko’s Pharmacy, a Hazelton, Pennsylvania-based pharmacy, has agreed to pay the United States $210,000 in civil penalties for allegedly failing to comply with recordkeeping requirements of the Controlled Substances Act.
The Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. sections 801 et seq. (CSA), was passed to combat illegal distribution and abuse of controlled substances, including prescription medications. The CSA’s recordkeeping and prescribing requirements are designed to prevent the diversion of controlled substances for illegal purposes.
The CSA is enforced by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Diversion Control Division, whose mission is to prevent, detect, and investigate the diversion of controlled pharmaceuticals and listed chemicals from legitimate sources while ensuring adequate and uninterrupted supply for legitimate medical, commercial, and scientific needs.
Under the CSA, entities registered with the DEA who purchase, distribute, dispense, transfer, or sell controlled substances must comply with inventory and documentation requirements, and are subject to compliance audits.
The regulations promulgated under the CSA require that each DEA registrant, including pharmacies, both maintain complete and accurate records of each substance manufactured, received, sold, delivered, dispensed, or otherwise disposed of by the registrant and promptly report any thefts or significant losses.
Waschko’s Pharmacy, located in Hazelton, Pennsylvania, allegedly failed to keep complete, timely, and accurate inventories and records regarding the receipt and dispensing of Schedule II, III, and IV controlled substances, including but not limited to oxycodone, amphetamine salts, buprenorphine/naloxone, and alprazolam, between August 2019 and August 2021.
The pharmacy cooperated with investigators and has since been placed under new ownership and hired a new pharmacist-in-charge. This settlement addresses the independent obligation of Waschko’s Pharmacy to ensure it has systems in place adequate to prevent improper dispensing, as required by 21 U.S.C. sections 827 and 842.
Waschko’s Pharmacy is a pharmacy located in Hazelton, Pennsylvania, and it is alleged that the pharmacy failed to comply with recordkeeping requirements of the Controlled Substances Act.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Waschko’s Pharmacy has agreed to pay the United States $210,000 in civil penalties for the alleged violations.
Waschko’s Pharmacy is currently under new ownership and has hired a new pharmacist-in-charge, and it has been placed under new ownership in the wake of the alleged violations.
The pharmacy has agreed to pay $210,000 in civil penalties for allegedly failing to comply with recordkeeping requirements of the Controlled Substances Act.
Waschko’s Pharmacy cooperated with investigators and has since been placed under new ownership and hired a new pharmacist-in-charge, and it has agreed to pay $210,000 in civil penalties for allegedly failing to comply with recordkeeping requirements of the Controlled Substances Act.
Pharmacies are entrusted with the proper dispensing and safeguarding of powerful prescription drugs such as oxycodone, buprenorphine, and naloxone, and with that responsibility comes the expectation that pharmacies can properly account for these same drugs.
U.S. Attorney Karam stated that the requirements to keep complete and accurate records at the pharmacy level are not merely a bookkeeping practice, but rather crucial measures intended and designed to keep our communities safe from the diversion and potential abuse of prescription drugs.
This settlement addresses the independent obligation of Waschko’s Pharmacy to ensure it has systems in place adequate to prevent improper dispensing, as required by 21 U.S.C. sections 827 and 842.
Waschko’s Pharmacy has agreed to pay the United States $210,000 in civil penalties for allegedly failing to comply with recordkeeping requirements of the Controlled Substances Act.
Defendant Name: Waschko’s Pharmacy
Criminal Charges: Recordkeeping Violations of the Controlled Substances Act
City and State: Hazelton, Pennsylvania
Date: August 2019 to August 2021
Sentence or Outcome: $210,000 in civil penalties
Dollar Amount: $210,000
Category: Drug Trafficking
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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