Crime & Safety
Woman Used Alexandria Doctor's Office To Sell Opioids: Prosecutor
The Alexandria medical assistant got fraudulently written prescriptions and sold over 42,360 pills of a deadly opioid, prosecutors say.
ALEXANDRIA, VA—A former medical assistant at Alexandria and Arlington 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 and electronically-generated fraudulent prescriptions using a medical recordkeeping system that she had access to as an employee.
Others would write or fill the prescriptions at pharmacies, and Edwards would then sell the bottles. According to court documents, Edwards and co-conspirators would use health care benefit programs and patient names to fill and pay for the prescriptions.
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She and her co-conspirators filled at least 353 prescriptions, and a total of 42,360 pills of 30 milligram oxycodone.
Edwards pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, and faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on Sept. 7.
Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Court documents did not identify the doctor's office involved.
Image via Shutterstock
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