Middletown police closed out an investigation into a prescription drug fraud ring this past week by arresting the final two suspects they say were involved in masterminding the fraud.
Jeffrey McLaughlin, 27, and Andrew Kerr, 26, both of Levittown, took part in the scam where calls were placed posing as doctors to a number of local pharmacies placing orders for prescriptions to be filled and picked up by the suspects.
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Gabrielle Rinko, 23, of Yardley, and Robert Brown, 27, of Levittown, were arrested at Rite Aid Pharmacy in the 100 block of North Flowers Road by Detective Dave Strother for similar crimes, LevittowNow.com reported several weeks ago. At the time, McLaughlin was the “unknown actor” identified in court documents.
Strother continued his investigation developing additional information and leads about the criminal conspiracy that pointed directly at McLaughlin and Kerr. Each playing a vital role in the drug fraud scheme, according to court documents.
According to police, three prescriptions were called into three different pharmacies for the would-be fraudster, McLaughlin, on October 3. Two of the pharmacies called cancelled the prescriptions. One pharmacist told McLaughlin the order placed was “fraudulent” and the second drug store told the suspect he’s been “red flagged” and couldn’t fill the prescriptions. The employee kept McLaughlin’s insurance cards and identification and was able to identify him for authorities later on, court records say.
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McLaughlin was able on his third attempt to fraudulently secure a prescription for 45 2 m.g. tabs of Xanax and 15 20 m.g, tabs of Paxil by using a medco insurance card, police say, and was captured on video picking up the ill gotten drugs.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Kerr on October 6 picked up orders for 60 Xanax 2 m.g. tablets and Paxil pills at a pharmacy in Middletown, using a Future Scrips insurance card to pay for the substances. Another order was placed in Kerr’s name for the same drugs and called in fraudulently by someone claiming to be an employee from a Middletown doctor’s office, who told authorities at the time Kerr was a former patient of his. Additionally, the office manager for the doctor informed authorities she suspected Kerr, McLaughlin and Brown to be involved with the extortion of pharmaceuticals, according to court papers.
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As reported previously by LevittownNow.com, Rinko picked up Kerr’s prescriptions and was arrested. She was charged with criminal attempt to acquire possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy to possess a controlled substance, criminal attempt to falsify an insurance claim and conspiracy to falsify an insurance claim. Brown who was with her that night was charged with criminal attempt to possess a controlled substance and conspiracy to falsify an insurance claim. He was sent to jail in lieu of 10 percent of $25,000
Middletown police identified the Ford F-250 Truck used in the October 8 incident as being owned by Kerr. Investigators met with the three pharmacies McLaughlin contacted obtaining video surveillance, payment records, and insurance information used in the drug scam, court documents say.
Strother met with Express Scripts Medco fraud investigators to inform them of the investigation of the conspiracy. The Middletown detective obtained additional information about the hoaxed pharmaceutical orders placed, court documents say.
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McLaughlin and Corr face charges of corruption of organizations, criminal attempt to acquire possession of a controlled substance, criminal attempt to falsify an insurance claim and conspiracy to falsify an insurance claim and a related offense.
McLaughlin is currently in Bucks County Jail on 10 percent of $50,000. Kerr was released on 25,000 unsecured bond. Both have preliminary hearings scheduled for December 19.
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Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
