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Four Facing Narcotic Charges

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SUNCOAST NEWS STAFF REPORT

Published: October 2, 2007

PALM HARBOR, Fla. - PALM HARBOR, Fla. - Four North Pinellas residents were arrested last week for allegedly obtaining controlled narcotics from area pharmacies by fraud.

The suspects had been using the medical identification of a local doctor to create fraudulent prescriptions, detectives with the Pinellas Sheriff's Office narcotics unit announced Monday evening.

The suspects, detectives said, used other stolen identification to create the fictional patient information on the prescriptions.

The pharmacies, at various CVS, Walgreens and Target stores in North Pinellas, assisted in the investigation and the arrests, detectives said.

As many as 16 fraudulent prescriptions were passed. Each time the suspects received as many as 180 doses of oxycodone at 30 milligrams each. One 30-mg tablet of oxycodone, a synthetic opioid pain-reliever, can cost $30 on the street.

With the aid of patrol deputies the narcotics detectives began investigating reports of fraudulent prescription activity on Sept. 24.

The investigation continues and more charges are possible, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Detectives identified the four arrested persons as:

• Christina Helena Fortune, 25, 3725 Woodridge Place, Palm Harbor. She was arrested Sept. 25 and charged with one count each of attempting to obtain a controlled substance by fraud, attempting to trafficking in oxycodone, possession of oxycodone and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Georgia Meghan Walters, 20, 1013 Bay Vista Ave., Tarpon Springs. She was arrested Sept. 26 and charged with one count each of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud; trafficking in oxycodone; possession of oxycodone; and violation of probation on prescription fraud.

• Ian Patrick Browne, 24, 180 Lifestyles Blvd., Palm Harbor. He was arrested Sept. 27 and charged with two counts of trafficking in oxycodone; one count each of attempting to obtain a controlled substance by fraud, obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and attempting to trafficking in oxycodone; and three counts each of conspiracy to traffic in oxycodone and unlawful possession of a driver's license.

• Tret Patrick Leanes, 23, 324 Phlox Drive, Palm Harbor. He was arrested Sept. 27 and charged with three counts of conspiracy to trafficking in oxycodone; and one count each of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and trafficking in oxycodone. He was also arrested on a warrant charging him with driving while license suspended or revoked.

Leanes was the informal coordinator of the group, detectives are alleging. For each fraudulent prescription that was passed, the person committing the fraud kept about a third of the pills for their own use, to sell or to trade, according to the investigators.

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