Baldwin Woman Fraudulently Obtained More Than 60,000 Pills

BALDWIN, PA - A Baldwin woman has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to charges of obtaining controlled substances through fraud and health care fraud. Heather Summerfield, 39, of Gerry Drive, entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Mark Hornak.

Summerfield obtained more than 60,000 tablets of Tramadol, a highly addictive drug similar to morphine, by posing as a representative of physicians' offices to obtain the prescriptions. She
received the prescriptions in her own name and in the names of fictitious individuals without the authorization of the physicians, according to U.S. Attorney Scott Brady's office.

The health care fraud occurred when insurance companies paid for the prescriptions.

Summerfield began using Tramadol following back surgery in 2009 and became addicted to it, according to Brady's office.

Summerfield faces up to 14 years in prison, a $500,000 fine or both. She will be sentenced on OCt. 3.