Woman Presented Forged Prescriptions for Oxycodone

SILVER SPRING, MD — A Prince George’s County woman faces trial for presenting forged prescriptions for the addictive pain reliever oxycodone and other drugs as part of a conspiracy.

Claire Elizabeth Rice, 68, of Silver Spring, pleaded guilty Thursday to federal charges of conspiracy to obtain controlled substances by prescription fraud and participating in a health care fraud scheme.

According to the indictment, Rice got the prescriptions from Novella White, a former employee of the cardiologist. White, 53, also known as Novella Brown, of Accokeek, has denied her role in the offenses and her jury trial is set to begin April 18.

White is charged with presenting forged prescriptions for oxycodone and other drugs in her own name.

Rice entered the plea in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. She faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison for the conspiracy count and up to 10 additional years for the health care fraud scheme. According to a news release, her sentencing is scheduled for June 3.

As part of the plea agreement, Rice also agreed to pay $16,175, representing her share of illegal proceeds obtained from Express Scripts and Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Rice admitted that from 2008 through 2013, she presented and filled 91 forged prescriptions for drugs, including oxycodone, in the name of a cardiologist in Northwest Washington. Rice was never a patient of this doctor, authorities said in the release.