Sarasota County Sheriff's Office - Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Press Releases

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Date: 9/16/2011

Released by : Wendy Rose

Press Release#: 11-146

Arrest for Prescription Fraud and Trafficking

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has arrested Priscilla Austin, DOB 12/4/77, 332 Rio Terra, Venice, on 34 counts of Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud and one count of Trafficking in Oxycodone.

In August, investigators with the Pharmaceutical Diversion Unit learned Austin had possibly presented a forged prescription for Oxycodone at a Sarasota pharmacy. Further investigation revealed that between March and August 2011 Austin obtained some 7,960 Oxycodone and Hydrocodone pills at several area pharmacies with an estimated street value exceeding $60,000.

Austin is being held in the Sarasota County Jail without bond on the trafficking charge and bond for the 34 fraud charges is set at $34,000.

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IN THE NEWS

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