Woman Used Arlington Doctor's Office To Sell Opioids: Prosecutor

ARLINGTON, VA—A former medical assistant at Arlington and Alexandria doctor's offices pleaded guilty Tuesday in a scheme to distribute a highly addictive type of opioid.

Louise S. Edwards, 38, of Maryland, took part in the scheme to distribute oxycodone between 2011 and December 2017, according to prosecutors. She had stolen blank prescription pads from both offices and electronically-generated fraudulent prescriptions using a medical recordkeeping system that she had access to as an employee at the Arlington office.

Others would write or fill the prescriptions at pharmacies, and Edwards would then sell the bottles. Edwards and co-conspirators would use health care benefit programs and patient names to fill and pay for the prescriptions.

In all they filled at least 353 prescriptions, and a total of 42,360 pills of 30 milligram oxycodone. Prosecutors believe Edwards generated at least 250 of the prescriptions at the Arlington office.

The doctor's offices involved were not identified in court documents.

Edwards pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, and faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on Sept. 7.

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