Malvern Pharmacist Admits Role in Internet Drug Distribution Scheme
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A Malvern, Pa. pharmacist today admitted playing a key role in the massive distribution of fraudulent prescriptions via the Internet.
The drug of choice was the often-abused painkiller hydrocodone.
Defendant Eric Fox pleaded guilty to money laundering linked to the scheme, which was based out of Texas, although the defense still disputes exactly what he knew about the fraudulent prescription scheme and when he knew it.
But federal prosecutor Mary Crawley says Fox, a "compounding pharmacist," made millions of pills.
"These bogus prescriptions, thousands of such prescriptions, they wrote the prescriptions and Mr. Fox compounded the hydrocodone to fill them," Crawley says.
Fox, who will be sentenced later, still operates the Compounding Rx Apothecary in Malvern. His attorney, Joseph Green, points out that the drug count against his client is being dropped and a Board of Pharmacy will decide on whether he can keep his license.
