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EAST LANSING – Ten Lansing-area residents have been charged in connection with an opioid prescription drug ring, the Michigan Attorney General’s Office said in a release.
The AG’s office alleges that Jennifer Bicego, 30, of Lansing, obtained a prescription pad from a Lansing-area doctor’s office where she previously worked.
The other nine people charged in the ring filled prescriptions for OxyContin, Norco, Percocet and Adderall at several Lansing area area pharmacies, according to the release, and the drugs were then sold for cash or traded for other drugs.
“When misused, prescription drugs can be every bit as dangerous as street drugs,” Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said in the release. “We will continue to aggressively pursue anyone involved in diverting prescription drugs outside the realm of legitimate medical treatment who are contributing to the scourge of opioid addiction to make money, at the detriment to those addicted and to our state as a whole.”
Bicego and five others face drug and Medicaid fraud charges because several of the fraudulent prescriptions were billed to Medicaid, according to the release. The four others charged in the connection with the ring face drug charges.
The 10 defendants were arraigned this week in 54B District Court in East Lansing. Online court records don’t list attorneys of record for any of the defendants.
Bicego is charged with five counts of conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud and eight drug charges. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Luke Gutkowski, 22, of Mason, faces two drug charges and up to four years in prison if convicted.
Dustin Fritz, 20, of Lansing, faces two drug charges and up to four years in prison if convicted.
Trisha Burkett, 20, of Mason, is charged with conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud, filing a false Medicaid claim and a drug charges. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Jona Lafferty, 20, of Vernon, is charged with conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud, filing a false Medicaid claim and a drug charges. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Lance Roe, 33, of Holt, is charged with conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud, filing a false Medicaid claim and a drug charges. The conspiracy charge carries a 10-year maximum sentence, but Roe is being charged as a habitual offender so the maximum sentence can be increased.
Charles Loveall, 34, of Holt, is charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud, filing a false Medicaid claim and six drug charges. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Brandon Madden, 32, of Charlotte, is facing four drug charges and faces up to four years in prison if convicted.
Andrew Pell, 31, of East Lansing, is facing two drug charges that carry maximum sentences of four years in prison. Pell is being charged as a habitual offender so the maximum sentence can be increased.
Rachel Vito, 27, of Lansing, with conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud, filing a false Medicaid claim and a drug charge. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Contact Matt Mencarini at (517) 267-1347 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @MattMencarini.