By Alexis Tarrazi
Senior Reporter

NORTH ARLINGTON (Dec. 10, 2008, 2:15 p.m.) — Prescription drug fraud has become more prevalent at local pharmacies, particularly in North Arlington, where a noticeable increase of arrests has been reported. The increase has been so substantial that the police created a separate code in July to sort the crime into its own category.

“As far as we know, (arrested individuals) use it or sell it and make a profit on it … then use that for some sort of unlawful means,” North Arlington Police Lt. John Hearn said.

After creating the code, eight reports and arrests have been made for prescription fraud. “We probably had more than that, but we didn’t have a code for it,” Hearn said. “It was happening so much.”

The number of prescription fraud cases in North Arlington is much higher than in any other towns in The Leader’s coverage area.

Hearn noted that the borough has approximately five to seven drug stores, including Drug Fair, CVS and Walgreens, among others. “That’s a lot for a 1-square-mile town,” Hearn said.

The arrests have been going on for months and have continued until a couple of weeks ago, when North Arlington Police reported Nov. 28 that Monique Sweeney was charged with attempting to obtain a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) by fraud, providing a forged document to a pharmacist and possession of stolen property (a doctor’s prescription pad). Sweeney was allegedly trying to obtain Tussionex, a scheduled 3 narcotic used to combat colds and the flu.

The schedule level of a drug is determined by how dangerous it is, ranging from one to five — with one being the strongest.

“Tussionex is beginning to get popular for illegal drug use,” Hearn said. “(It) has a pretty potent narcotic.”

Sweeney was processed and released on summonses.

On Nov. 23 at 4:21 p.m., North Arlington Police arrested two females for also attempting to obtain Tussionex by fraud.

Delenora Martin and Maya Wilson, both 28, of Newark, were arrested after an employee of CVS, located at 585 Ridge Road, reported a female trying to pass a fake prescription slip. Police reported responding to the CVS and locating a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot with Martin as the driver.

Police said they spoke with Martin and smelled a strong odor of marijuana.

Martin was then arrested for DWI, and a search of Martin’s 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse was conducted. Police said they found a prescription bottle without a label and inside was a thick yellowish liquid found to be Tussionex.

Martin was charged with possession of CDS, obtaining CDS by fraud, being under the influence of CDS, possession of drug paraphernalia, DWI and possession of drugs in a motor vehicle. She was processed and released on summonses.

When police arrived at the pharmacy, Wilson was identified as the woman trying to pass a fake prescription. Wilson was reportedly searched and found to be in possession of one dime-sized baggie of marijuana.

Wilson was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, being under the influence of marijuana, attempting to obtain CDS by fraud and fraud (providing a forged prescription). Wilson also had an active warrant out of Newark for $125. She was processed and released on summonses.

Police say that the fraud will usually occur by someone submitting a fake prescription, using a stolen prescription pad or calling the pharmacy over the phone.

Seeing a spike in these types of crimes, the North Arlington Police Department continues to have a working relationship with local pharmacies in the borough.

“The detective bureau has notified the local pharmacies that we have seen an increase,” said Louis Ghione, chief of police for North Arlington. “Quite frankly, the pharmacists are aware of this and notify us, and we investigate subsequent to their notification.”

Aware of the fraud tactics occurring, pharmacy employees are well-versed in identifying fake prescriptions and verify with doctors if they have suspicions.

“We take the matter of prescription fraud very seriously, and we have policies and procedures in place designed to curtail this activity,” stated Michael DeAngelis, CVS director of public relations. “We also work closely with law enforcement and regulatory agencies on the issue. However, we do not comment on our methods, so as not to undermine them.”

Neighboring boroughs have also encountered prescription fraud, but not to the extent of North Arlington. Police with Wood-Ridge, Lyndhurst and East Rutherford all noted they have experienced the same situations, but only very rarely.

“We have encountered prescription drug fraud; every once in awhile, we get a call from a pharmacy about this,” Wood-Ridge Police Chief Joseph Rutigliano said. “This has been going on for years. We have not experienced a rash or at least not in the Borough of Wood-Ridge.”

In Rutherford, Police Detective Lt. Patrick Feliciano said the department has had approximately five arrests in 2008.

“Most of them do ‘Doc Shopping,’ ” Feliciano said. “They go from doctor to doctor … are prescribed a pain killer, and continue on to another doctor with the same routine.”

A flaw in the routine occurs when the suspect becomes addicted to the point where he or she will do just about anything to get a new refill of the prescription and may resort to fraudulently filling out their own prescriptions, Feliciano noted. “Many people will pick up a painkiller and then blow through it in less than 30 days,” Feliciano said.