2nd Arrest Made In Southington Cough Medicine Fraud Case

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A second arrest has been made in a prescription fraud case out of Southington, police said.

On Dec. 5, Westly Valentin, 23, of New Britain, was arrested on an outstanding warrant and charged with second-degree forgery, conspiracy to commit second-degree forgery and conspiracy to illegally obtain drugs, police said.

The warrant stemmed from an incident that occurred in October, when Valentin and an accomplice allegedly attempted to obtain a prescription codeine cough syrup using a forged

prescription.

Pharmacy staffers learned that the prescription was forged and notified police. Valentin was identified as one of the suspects, police said.

He was held on a $75,000 bond and that was reduced to $50,000 after a Dec. 6 court appearance, according to police and judicial system records. As of Monday, he was still being held on the latter amount and its set to appear in court again on Jan. 3, records show.

The accomplice was arrested on Oct. 17, police said. Jeffrey Kissi, 21 of New Britain was charged with second-degree forgery, conspiracy to obtain illegal drugs, illegally obtaining drugs, conspiracy/possession of an illegal substance and possession of an illegal substance, records show.

The warrant alleges that on Oct, 12 at about 11 a.m. Kissi and another man went to the pharmacy at Price Chopper, 410 Queen Street, presented identification and then picked up a forged/altered prescription that was faxed to the Pharmacy on Oct. 10.

The prescription was in the name of another person claimed to be a relative by Kissi, according to a warrant. The prescription was for Promethazine-Codeine syrup, police said.

Photo Credit: SPD

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