Tampa police: prescription drug ringleader busted

TAMPA -- Police say a man who was arrested Thursday night with $10,000 worth of Oxycodone pills is the leader of a prescription fraud ring in several bay area counties.

Kenneth Wade Anderson, 21, of Floral City, was caught with 687 pills, marijuana and nearly $2,500 in cash when police arrested him outside the McDonald's at 4009 Armenia Ave. N at around 7:20 p.m., said Tampa police spokeswoman Janelle McGregor.

 Anderson's (pictured left) charges include two counts of drug trafficking, two counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, burglary and grant theft, according to jail records. Anderson has been committing prescription fraud in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Sumter counties, police said.

Police also arrested Anthony Vincent Henaghan, 21, of Brooksville and charged him with trafficking in drugs and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. A tip led officers to the arrests.

Click here to read a series of reports the St. Petersburg Times did last year on the deadly effects of abusing prescription drugs.

Kevin Smetana, Times staff writer

[Photo: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office]

Comments

[whyman]

How do you accumulate 687 pills by fraud. Where is the responsibility of the doctors or pharmacists. They need to dig a little deeper on this issue.

[Betsy]

YESSS!!! Catch those bastards selling oxy's. I've seen too many lives ruined because of this drug. And put a law into effect to stop the dr. shopping!!

[JR]

Whyman is right. The doc's handing out these pills like candy need to be investigated. I can look at anyone that is on Oxy's and tell that they are on something. Legal drugs are worse than illegal drugs. Legalize it!

[secretagent]

buried family last month because of those pill pushing doctors. Sad thing is law enforcement is aware of which ones are, just afraid to go after them. Tom much work involved. His was in Pasco county. Ask any druggie where they get em. they will tell you. Has a rep for it. Cops say investigating into it, but duh for over 2 years now.
Gig is up g r e e n f i e l d

[Dave]

There is a law against Dr Shopping. The Doctors who hand these pills (and Xanax and Roxycontins) are getting 250.00 a pop for a 2 minute, no hands on, exam. I know people who get enough pills that one days dosage would kill a horse. This is called "Pain Managment"...and Pain Management is a Personal Injury Attorneys best defense in getting an award for thier client. HOWEVER,during the "pain managment" course, the "injured" gets hooked, and ultimately by way of selling these things, easy money..and we are talking thousands of dollars PER MONTH. People fence these items...call their friends and say "I got some blu's 80 (or whatever the dosage is)", etc. Those who get "hooked" start piling up Criminal rap sheets longer than earth is round...sometimes twice. First of all, everyone involved is culpable. If these drugs were not so easily available, then we wouldnt have such a problem like we did when Herion was the "in thing", or crack. This is worst only because a person perscribed 240 Roxys 80mg (that is PER MONTH) is LEGALLY allowed to possess them. They go for about 40 on the street...perhaps 15 for the 20mgs. Then the wear and tear on the body itself. How are you supposed to help heal your body if you feel no pain and do things (rob and run, lift a stolen stereo) that would aggravate your original injury?? There are people out there willing to pay the exhorbant Drs. Fees, and the hundreds it costs to get the Script filled, for others, just to get a piece of the cake.
Lawyers, Pain Management and GREEDY Doctors are to blame for this whole mess. They opened up a new world with this drug, and killing off the old one. Responsibility lies with the patient themselves. Then there is Dr. Shopping. Dont get me started......

[Sandie]

Pasco county is full of oxy's and roxy's and anything between just look at your neighbors you know who's dealing, the ones who have cars over 24-7 and don't even try to hide it. The cops know who they are but can't do anything because there under staffed. They can only bust them if by accident, like a car stop. It's a shame because you could hand these drug dealers to the cops and they say they can't do anything because they don't have the man power. And then you feel powerless because your up ALL night listening to bulls*** out side your windows.

[zealous4him]

I'm very happy the drug dealer was arrested and very sad that the drugs are so easily obtained. A dear friend's boyfriend overdosed on this drug and he was only 21 years old. She woke up next to him the next morning and he was dead. Grant it, he was wrong in taking enough to OD, but if he hadn't had such easy access to them, he may still be alive today.

[char]

The problem is that there are people in this world that will get "hooked" on anything, no matter what it is. I take Oxycodone for a legitimate problem, and have been taking it for over a year. I am not addicted because I only take them when I absolutely can't stand the pain, but most of the time I use over the counter pain medication. If you are going to grind the things up and snort them, then you are asking to get hooked. Additive personalites are out there everywhere, and it's not just these drugs. If they weren't available it would just be something else.

[Mr._Reality]

char, you are right if not this drug it would be something else. I hear heroin is on the comeback.This pills have been hard to get for us legitimate people(Motorcycle wreck) and these dirt bags run around with pocket fulls hang em all.

[Sign]

Get the doctor's assistants to watch their docs, then give them reward, like a quetam, they'll crack. Even an MA has sworn an oath, nurses do, there should be a reward, monetary, and no retaliation either.

[Mike]

Totally agree a/b doctors being held responsible for over prescribing these very addictive drugs but what about the people that start taking drugs recreationally taking responsibility for their lifes. are we supposed to feel sorry for them?

Not surprised they caught this guy at Mickey D's. looks like he has spent a lot of time there. hope the bust was a good one, and he stays away for a very, very long time

[Ms Martin]

Wow. They make Roxy 80's? Funny, those lil blue things only come in 30's as far as I know. My sister gets them for a legitimate condition. Oxy's come in 80's tho.

[Just_Me]

My husband gets oxys for cancer. I have to give the pharmacist my drivers license to fill this RX, every time. Seems like if the Drs are over-prescribing & patients dr-shopping, their names would hit a watch list. The days of doctor shopping & no questions asked prescription filling are numbered. Junkies beware.

[someonesMOM]

Keep up the great work, bust them all. The lives of not only the user's are being ruined but also the lives of their family members who have to watch them killing themselves and can do nothing about it. Lock them up and never let them out again. Better yet hold their mouths open and pour the confiscated pills down their necks, it would save taxpayer dollars and be poetic justice. Prison to dealers and the Doctors that make it possible.

[Tkrardon]

Listen anybody who thinks they are immune or better then these people better think again.I personally know 5-6 people who got caught in this behind a legimate condition.However when insurance runs out you by now are addicted and MUST have them.There are honest people who know what their doing is wrong but CAN NOT STOP AND WILL DO WHAT THEY HAVE TO TO GET THEM,"Judge not lest you be judged"

[sherra]

I work for a Dr in Pinellas County and we have had numerous calls from Pasco and Hillsborough pharmacies regarding fake prescriptions using my Dr.'s name.
The ones they are using have been printed using my Dr.'s name but list his address and phone as being in Tampa at a pain clinic, and it is always for one of the oxy drugs. Thus far we have only had one pharmacy that was willing to call the police. The other ones say they don't want the hassell of going to court etc...because most get nothing more than a slap on the hand. Unfortunately if the pharmacist are not willing to call police our hands ae tied. They do give us the name on the prescription and when checking them out on the sheriff's websites they always have a record a mile long for the same thing.
There needs to be much stronger laws regarding these people, because right now it is usually just a revolving door for them in the system. It is making it very hard for the people that really need these drugs.

[Dave]

I know that there are people out there who make fake scripts, and sometimes, more often than not, the Pharmacy does not verify (Dr.s office closed, etc). There was a moratorium on OXYS by many pharmacies. That set off a fury of inventions for these junkies. I have several family members addicted to these things (and "Blue's and 80mg's are what I hear from them..whether Oxy or Roxy...I understand the Blues are more expensive). As one poster said, when they run out of insurance, or a source to pay, they WILL do anything to get those drugs, including robbing, stealing, pawning precious family heirlooms from Grannys jewelry box. ANYTHING of value is not immune to theft. These legitimate reasons for having the perscription (however ridiculous the quantity dispensed) only lead to trouble for the person taking them. Sellin them is only the start. Those already hooked, well....they get caught under the influence of the drug, with say a camera that doesnt belong to them, they get busted for theft. Not being under the influence. Lets talk about the Rehabs for the habitual user. These places that are out there are not locked down (at least the ones I"ve heard of), the person can walk away. he/she is not going for a simple stroll down a sunny sidewalk. They have a car waiting for them, to take them to get their next script. Here's the mindset of one individual I know "OMG, I'm in rehab, I have a Dr.s appt, I have to get to my Dr.s appt so I can get money and a fix". ZOOOM....they are off. I never said that the person who is hooked is not responsible...I only said that they are ALL culpable, but the one in the end that suffers, is the one who turns out to be a junkie. That person really suffers in the end, cuz it IS the end when they OD, and who suffers then, the family. Oxycodone, Roxycontin, Hydrocodone, the milligrams, color etc. are of no importance except for potency and street value. They all affect the same, if not taken properly. YA GET HOOKED!!! And the Drs., as I said, overperscribe. They are the ones who should be required to register every patient who is receiving these Drugs, the amount dispensed, mg's, etc. and then we will see how many (especially the ones in a strip Mall, or cheap office, built to look like a pharmacy) get closed down. They ought to have a special Pharmacy, one where everyone has to go who are perscribed these, and make sure the "complaint" is legit before doling out these money making, junkie making, Dr enriching killers to anyone.

[Dave]

P.S. Secretagent posted a note about a particular Dr. I know someone who goes to him. He wouldnt give the pt. narcotics, but he'll tell you who will. Oddly the pharmacy that he hints for people to go to, is around the corner from him. I saw Detectives and Cops there on a regular basis with mug shots.....asking questions. That Dr. is supposed to be the SAINT of all Drs. If ever a doubt, you just put it there.

[pj]

florida ave and sligh need i say more shut it down and pull all the records and you will make a small dent in your problem but the others will take notice

[FLLady]

Wow..People doing drugs, and it's docs fault. Guess crackheads and powderheads can now blame the pusher. I say incarcerate pill-poppers. Treat 'em like any other law-breaking dope fiend. While you're at it, have them pay restitution so that I can get my window fixed that was busted by a pill popper trying to steal what they thought was a wallet, but turned out to be my makeup bag. Oh yeah, need restitution for that, too. Custom-made stuff; very costly.

[.45]

I am sitting here reading the comments on this story and I am amazed by how many ppl believe that in the case of "legal" drugs everyone is to blame except for the user, even the drug itself is being blamed. I hear ppl calling for the heads of the doctors that prescribe the drugs and want new laws that go after the ones that make the drugs BUT i never hear this same arguments for "illegal" drugs.
We know who the makers of the illegal drugs are, we know who smuggles them in the US and all, but I dont hear the outcry to go after them.

[Sign]

THE PHARMACISTS DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, STATUS QUO ON SOMETHING ABOUT THEY ONLY MAKE ABOUT A DOLLAR ON EACH PRESCRIPTION, WHAT DO THEY CARE? THEN THE ASSISTANTS AREN'T LICENSED, THEN THERE'S THE INTERNET RX (PROBABLY CHINESE PILL SHOP) WE'LL PROBABLY HEAR THEY'RE PUTTING SOME KIND OF WHATEVER IN THE INTERNET DRUGS DOWN THE ROAD, THEN MAYBE THE DEA WILL DO SOMETHING? WERE'S THE INTERNET POLICE? THEY GO AFTER THE PRED'S, WHY NOT THESE CLOWNS TOO

[Sign]

I BELIEVE IT'S THE PEOPLE TAKING THE PILLS FAULT TOO, BUT THEY'RE STUPID -- AND DANGEROUS --

[chilla]

I BELEIVE THAT THE POLICE ARE OUT IN THE BACK ROADS OF RURAL AMERICA SITTING ON THERE BUTTS WAITING FOR SOME SPEEDER TO COME BY ,ON SOME LONLY WOODED ROAD THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN ANY THIS ELSE JUST SIT AND TICKET SOME ON GOING TEN OR SO MILES OVER THEIR LIMIT ON SOME STRAIGHT FIFTY MILE PER HR ROAD THAT THE STATE SET AT THIRTY .I CANT STAND THE POLICE THEY ARE ALL A BUNCH OF CROOKS AND ONLY CARE ABOUT BRINGING IN THE MONEY FOR CAPT DADDY,, THEY MAKE ME SICK ,USLESS PIECE'S OF CRAP.. ABOUT THE OLNY THING THEY CAN DO ON THEIR OWN IS HOLD A GUN,,GARBAGE THIS COUNTRY IS FULL OF CROOKED POLITICANS, MAYORS, DIRECTORS, CAPTAINS, DOCTORS, LAWYERS, TEACHERS, SMELLY 7-11 CLEARKS,AND DIRTY STINKIN POLICE .THEY SUCK