Officer Manager At Somers Practice Accused of Prescription Fraud

SOMERS, CT — A woman who was working as the officer manager of a Somers medical practice is accused of taking a prescription pad in an effort to obtain potent pain medication, state police said.

Evelyn Ruiz, 34, was charged on Saturday with nine counts of second-degree forgery and a single count of sixth-degree larceny, according to a report. She posted respective bonds of $25,000 and $5,000 and has a Nov. 6 court date, a report indicates.

The case dates back to April 25, 2017, when Dr. Ian Tucker told state police an employee had stolen a prescription pad for forged drug orders, a warrant indicates. She had been the office manager since 20111, according to a warrant.

The doctor indicated that he received a call the day before from a CVS in Chicopee, MA about Ruiz trying to obtain 12 Percocet (Oxycodone-acetaminophen) pills on a prescription signed by him, according to a warrant. Dr. Tucker told state police he would offer employees small doses of medication "to get them by until they saw their primary care physician, dentist, etc."

A warrant indicates the handwriting on what drug to prescribe was different from his own, Dr. Tucker told state police.

According to a warrant, Dr. Tucker asked the CVS for Ruiz's transaction history and the results were, in his words, "shocking to say the least." She had 24 transactions for Oxycodone-acetaminophen from Dec. 17, 2015 to March 24, 2017, in quantities of 12 and 20 according to a warrant.

Dr. Tucker said he would never authorize a prescription pad to be removed from the office, according to a warrant.

Photo Credit: Tim Jensen

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