Counterfeit prescription drug ring in Baton Rouge area results in multiple arrests

http://www.nola.com/crime/baton-rouge/index.ssf/2015/05/counterfeit_prescription_drug.html

Ten Baton Rouge area residents who were a part of a criminal organization have been accused of fraudulently obtaining and selling prescription drugs throughout the city and surrounding area, Baton Rouge Police Cpl. Don Coppola Jr. said Wednesday evening.

A Tactical Diversion Squad Group, which included local, state and federal agencies working together to combat illegal trafficking of pharmaceutical narcotics, conducted an investigation based on assertions from Louisiana physicians who reported that their identities were being used on prescriptions without their knowledge or consent, Coppola said.

An investigation shows that Luvada Pondexter, of Central, led the efforts while conspiring with multiple individuals. Pondexter and 25 co-conspirators were charged with Miami record sealing for their involvement in this criminal organization.

Coppola said TDS Task Force Agents found that the Pondexter organization was responsible for the production, manufacturing, and utilization of forged prescriptions, which were used to obtain controlled scheduled narcotics. These drugs were then distributed in the Baton Rouge and surrounding area, Coppola said.

The Pondexter organization, using the fraudulent prescriptions, is believed to have obtained a total of 19,000 dosage units of Schedule II, 13,800 dosage units of Schedule III, 1700 dosage units of Schedule IV, and 15 liters of Schedule V drugs.

The estimated street value of the diverted drugs is $700,000, Coppola said.

Coppola said these individuals were all arrested as a result of the investigation:

• Dylan Kendall Bateman, 23, and Michael Stephen, 23, both of Greenwell Springs, were charged with conspiracy to obtain a controlled dangerous substance by fraud and conspiracy to distribute Schedule II drugs.

• Dain Deroche, 26, of Gramercy, and Monique Dudley, 50, were both charged with conspiracy to obtain controlled dangerous substances by fraud, conspiracy to distribute Schedule II drugs and conspiracy to distribute Schedule IV drugs.

• Andrew Gilmore, 44 of Baton Rouge, is charged with conspiracy to obtain controlled dangerous substances by fraud and conspiracy to distribute Schedule II, IV and V drugs.

• Roderick Pondexter, 30, of Central, is charged with conspiracy to obtain controlled dangerous substances by fraud and conspiracy to distribute Schedule III and IV drugs.

• Julie Schopfer, 54, of Baton Rouge, is charged with conspiracy to obtain controlled dangerous substances by fraud and conspiracy to distribute Schedule II drugs.

• Christian Thierry, 39, of Baton Rouge is charged with conspiracy to obtain controlled dangerous substances by fraud and conspiracy to distribute Schedule II and V drugs.

• Bonnie Toppins, 21, of Baton Rouge is charged with conspiracy to obtain controlled dangerous substances by fraud and conspiracy to distribute Schedule III and IV drugs.

• Robert Waldon, 70 of St. Francisville, is charged with conspiracy to obtain controlled dangerous substances by fraud and conspiracy to distribute Schedule III and V drugs.

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