Health & Fitness
Phony Fremont Pharmacist Case: Felony Charges Filed
The state accuses unlicensed Kim Thien Le of dispensing three-quarters of a million prescriptions at Walgreens, including in Fremont.
FREMONT, CA — Kim Thien Le, accused of dispensing 745,000 prescriptions — including fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and codeine — at Walgreens pharmacies in Fremont, Milpitas, and San Jose, now faces criminal charges in the alleged scheme, according to the California Attorney General's Office. Le has never been a licensed pharmacist.
Le faces three felony counts: false personation, identity theft, and obtaining money, labor or property by false pretenses. The complaint was filed in Alameda County Superior Court, but Le is a Milpitas resident and was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail on July 26.
The charges, announced Tuesday, claim that Le worked as a pharmacist at Walgreens from November 1, 2006 to September 5, 2017, by using the license numbers of legitimately registered pharmacists.
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"Californians picking up medications at their local pharmacy should never have to worry about whether pharmacies are employing licensed pharmacists to dispense prescriptions," said Attorney General Xavier Becerra. "The California Department of Justice is committed to protecting patients from anyone who unlawfully practices without a license. Today’s announcement should serve as a stern warning — we are committed to ending this reckless behavior and will vigorously hold wrongdoers accountable."
Each of the three criminal charges against Le carries a potential sentence of one year and four months to three years in prison, if she is convicted.
Find out what's happening in Fremontfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Becerra spokeswoman Jennifer Molina said Le has been released on bail. Her next court date in Alameda County Superior Court is August 30.
The administrative charges against Le and the three Walgreens branches are pending before the Board of Pharmacy, according to the board's website.
— Patch editor Bea Karnes and Bay City News contributed to this story
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