Chicago Pharmacy Techs Indicted For Stealing, Selling Opioids

CHICAGO, IL — Two Chicago pharmacy technicians were arrested Thursday for conspiring to steal more than 56,000 hydrocodone pills and selling them for a profit, according to U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois, citing an indictment. According to the indictment, officials said Allcare Discount Pharmacy technicians Elizabeth Cruz, 33, of Stone Park, and Jacqueline Green, 27, of Chicago, are being indicted on charges of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with the intent to deliver.

The indictment reported the two women conspired to steal 56,108 pills of Hydrocodone from the pharmacy in the 2700 block of West North Avenue from September 2015 to December 2017, and sell them for a profit.

According to officials, the charges detail Cruz and Green covered up these crimes by falsifying the pharmacy’s inventory to make it look like the pills had either not been received from the distributor or were dispensed to patients.

Detention hearings for the pair are scheduled for 3 p.m. Monday. Aug. 13 in Chicago, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez.

“Diversion of opioids contributes to addiction and illegal drug sales in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch, in a release. “Pharmacy employees who divert prescription drugs for their own profit will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

According to a release, the indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and Brian McKnight, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nani M. Gilkerson.

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