June 13-27: Prescription Drug Scam Under Federal Investigation

Filling a fake prescription

A prescription drug scam visited upon a pharmacy chain in Fair Oaks has gone federal, Sacramento County sheriff's officials said.

Last Thursday evening, sheriff's deputies said they arrested three men on suspicion of obtaining at least two fake prescription orders from the at 5420 Dewey Dr.

According to an incident report from the sheriff's department, a man identified as Terry Dean, 47, entered the pharmacy around 5 p.m. June 23 to pick up a false prescription that had been called in by an unknown party. Dean was joined by Kevin McCullom, 41, of Sacramento, who had reportedly picked up a fake prescription from the same pharmacy using the same illegally-procured doctor’s number two days prior.

The report says Dean completed his transaction and left the pharmacy with narcotics obtained with the fake prescription.

Sheriff's officials say the two men were driven to the pharmacy in a stolen car by Christopher John Smith, 48, of Citrus Heights, and were joined by an individual who wasn't identified.

It's unclear how authorities were notified and where or under what circumstances the arrests took place.

Sheriff's department spokesman said the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency's involvement raised the case's status to "a continuing federal investigation" and that he would have to "refrain from divulging certain things in the interest of protecting the integrity of their case."

Though the sheriff's department report listed Dean as one of those arrested, no record of his booking or arraignment could be found in Sacramento County jail or court records available online.

Both McCullom and Smith, however, were arraigned and given court-appointed counsel Monday in . Their next court appearance is tentatively scheduled for July 11.

Both men face felony counts of second-degree robbery, possession of a controlled substance and a second drug offense. Smith is also facing a charge of receiving stolen property, according to online court records.

Not how you play 'Fetch'

A parking citation sent a West Sacramento man into a phone-throwing tizzy a few miles outside of Fair Oaks earlier this month, according to officials.

Online court records show that no formal charges have been brought against Ghamay Mashriqi, 34, of West Sacramento, in connection with a confrontation involving a Sacramento County parking enforcement employee the morning of June 13.

According to a sheriff's department summary of the event, tensions sparked when the 35-year-old county employee issued a citation to Mashriqi at 4901 Little Oak Ln. in Sacramento.

"The parking citation was for multiple violations," Ramos said, "including parking under a 'No Parking' sign."

The report states that Mashriqi became irate at being given the citation and entered the county employee’s parking enforcement vehicle and removed a cellphone. Mashriqi then reportedly chucked the phone about 50 feet.

Ramos said Mashriqi "started to walk away from the location prior to officers' arrival, but only made it about 100 feet away."

Sheriff's officers arrested Mashriqi on a robbery charge in connection with the phone, which was still lying where it had been thrown when officers arrived.