South Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Working as a Pharmacist

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On July 24, 2012, a 49-year-old man from Ruskin in South Fla., pleaded guilty in federal court to fraudulently working as a Central Florida pharmacist from 2000 to 2009, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in a press release.

Fake Pharmacist was Working at Central Florida Pharmacies.

Prosecutors said this man worked at pharmacies throughout Central Florida, including CVS pharmacy and Walgreens. According to the Orlando Sentinel, while working at one of the pharmacies, he gave a customer the incorrect medication, causing that person to suffer a severe reaction and stroke.

Alleged Identity Theft to Obtain Pharmacist License.

Allegedly, the man fraudulently obtained a pharmacist license in September of 2000 from the State Department of Health (DOH) by using the […]

By |2024-03-14T10:01:38-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Legal Defense for Pharmacists, Pharmacist, Pharmacy, Pharmacy Law|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on South Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Working as a Pharmacist
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Phony Pharmacist Gets Prison Time for Working at Pharmacies in Central Florida

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On November 2, 2012, a former Altamonte Springs resident was sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison for fraudulently working as a Central Florida pharmacist from 2000 to 2009, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Click here to read the press release from the DOJ.

I previously blogged about this story when the fake pharmacist pleaded guilty. Click here to read that blog.

Man Allegedly Worked at a CVS and Walgreens in Central Florida.

According to an article in the Orlando Sentinel, the man worked at pharmacies throughout Central Florida, including a CVS and a Walgreens. While working at one of the pharmacies, he allegedly gave a customer the incorrect medication, causing that person to suffer a […]

By |2024-03-14T10:01:08-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Department of Health, Florida Board of Pharmacy, Legal Defense for Pharmacists, Pharmacist, Pharmacy, Pharmacy Law|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Phony Pharmacist Gets Prison Time for Working at Pharmacies in Central Florida
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Sex, Drugs and Money Lands Avalon Park Pharmacist in Handcuffs

9 Indest-2008-6By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

Sex, prescription drugs and money – sounds like the next big rock ‘n’ roll song, doesn’t it? According to a number of news sources, the owner of an Avalon Park-area pharmacist was allegedly knowingly filling phony prescriptions for painkillers. The pharmacist is also accused of exchanging sex for drugs with at least one woman, according to the Orlando Sentinel. This investigation was led by the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation (MBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Both agencies simultaneously raided the pharmacy on November 29, 2012.

Avalon Park is a community it the greater Orlando area.
Filling Phony Prescriptions.

According to WFTV, the owner of the pharmacy and two employees sat handcuffed outside the pharmacy as federal drug agents reportedly […]

By |2024-03-14T10:01:08-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Pharmacist, Pharmacy, Pharmacy Law, Trafficking Prescription Painkillers|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Sex, Drugs and Money Lands Avalon Park Pharmacist in Handcuffs
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The 25 Biggest Mistakes Pharmacists Make After Being Notified of a Department of Health Complaint

1 Indest-2008-1By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

The investigation of a complaint which could lead to the revocation of a pharmacist’s license to practice and the assessment of tens of thousands of dollars in fines, usually starts with a simple letter from the Department of Health (DOH). This is a very serious legal matter and it should be treated as such by the pharmacist who receives it. Yet, in many cases, attorneys are consulted by pharmacists after the entire investigation is over, and they have attempted to represent themselves throughout the case. Often, the mistakes that have been made severely compromise an attorney’s ability to achieve a favorable result for the pharmacist.

These are the 25 biggest mistakes we see in the pharmacy cases we are called upon to defend […]

By |2024-03-14T10:01:09-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Florida Board of Pharmacy, Legal Defense for Pharmacists, Pharmacist, Pharmacy Law|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on The 25 Biggest Mistakes Pharmacists Make After Being Notified of a Department of Health Complaint
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Safeway Pharmacy Settles Medical Negligence and Wrongful Death Suit Over Woman’s Death

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On December 5, 2016, a Nebraska magistrate judge signed off on an agreement resolving a widower’s wrongful death suit. The medical negligence suit contends that Safeway pharmacists negligently dispensed methadone and another medication to the plaintiff’s now-dead wife even though using the drugs together is risky, ultimately leading to her death.


Medical Negligence.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas D. Thalken, granted a stipulation of dismissal in Brian Crawford’s litigation alleging that Safeway is liable for his wife’s death. Crawford alleges that Safeway is responsible for his late wife’s death because its pharmacists gave her both methadone and fluconazole, despite the fact that the medications are contraindicated for simultaneous use. Click here to read the order in full.

Brian Crawford, who originally filed suit in April 2014, […]

By |2024-03-14T10:01:22-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Health Facilities Law Blog|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Safeway Pharmacy Settles Medical Negligence and Wrongful Death Suit Over Woman’s Death
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Safeway Pharmacy Settles Medical Negligence and Wrongful Death Suit Over Woman’s Death

PS 4 Indest-2009-3By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On December 5, 2016, a Nebraska magistrate judge signed off on an agreement resolving a widower’s wrongful death suit. The medical negligence suit contends that Safeway pharmacists negligently dispensed methadone and another medication to the plaintiff’s now-dead wife even though using the drugs together is risky, ultimately leading to her death.

Medical Negligence.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas D. Thalken, granted a stipulation of dismissal in Brian Crawford’s litigation alleging that Safeway is liable for his wife’s death. Crawford alleges that Safeway is responsible for his late wife’s death because its pharmacists gave her both methadone and fluconazole, despite the fact that the medications are contraindicated for simultaneous use. Click here to read the order in full.

Brian Crawford, who originally filed suit in […]

By |2024-03-14T10:01:27-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Pharmacy Law Blog|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Safeway Pharmacy Settles Medical Negligence and Wrongful Death Suit Over Woman’s Death
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Finding an Attorney/Lawyer Who Takes Healthcare Providers Service Organization (HPSO) Insurance for Pharmacists and Pharmacies

PS 3 Indest-2009-2By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

We often hear from callers and clients in professional licensing complaints, Department of Health investigations and Board of Pharmacy cases, that they had good insurance coverage with Healthcare Providers Service Organization (HPSO) Insurance, but could not find an attorney that would accept it. Often these professionals retain us after action has been taken to appeal or attempt to reverse an adverse disciplinary action taken against their license.

This should not be a difficult task. Our firm and its attorneys have accepted HPSO Insurance for over 25 years.

Our firm has attorneys that are licensed in and can defend pharmacies and pharmacists in Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Additionally, there are many states, such as Tennessee, Georgia, Oregon, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, […]

By |2024-03-14T10:01:29-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Pharmacy Law Blog|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |1 Comment
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Finding an Attorney/Lawyer To Represent Pharmacists and Pharmacies That Take CPH & Associates (CPH&A) Insurance

9 Indest-2008-6By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

We often hear from pharmacists and pharmacy owners who call and retain us to represent them. Often these pharmacists and pharmacy owners retain us after adverse disciplinary action has already been taken against their licenses or DEA registrations. They retain us to appeal or attempt to reverse an adverse disciplinary action taken against their license, including revocations.

Whether you have a letter stating you are under investigation or a formal complaint, you should not have difficulty in locating good, experienced legal counsel to represent you. This includes letters from the Department of Health (DOH) advising them that they are being investigated, Administrative Complaints, emergency restriction orders (EROs), and emergency suspension orders (ESOs).

In many cases they had good insurance coverage with CPH & Associates (CPH&A) Insurance, […]

By |2024-03-14T10:01:29-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Pharmacy Law Blog|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Finding an Attorney/Lawyer To Represent Pharmacists and Pharmacies That Take CPH & Associates (CPH&A) Insurance
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“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of George F. Indest III, P.A.
The Health Law Firm, a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
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