AG: Nearly 30000 pills stolen by pharmacy assistant in Schuylkill Co. – WFMZ Allentown

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HARRISBURG, Pa. – A Schuylkill County pharmacy assistant stands accused of stealing nearly 30,000 prescription pills, including more than 27,000 Oxycodone pills.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the arrest Friday of Jamie Karmonick, 41, of Mahanoy City. She is charged with a felony – acquisition or obtaining possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge – and related charges, including theft.

The investigation began in March when a pharmacist at Alliance Medication Services in Tamaqua noticed a discrepancy in the number of Oxycodone tablets documented on the pharmacy’s computer system, according to a news release from the AG’s office.

The pharmacist contacted the Schuylkill County district attorney’s office, which in turn contacted the attorney general’s bureau of narcotics investigation and drug control.

An audit of the pharmacy’s computer system – with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration – revealed a discrepancy and loss of nearly 30,000 prescription pills, as well as evidence the pill counts were fraudulently edited by Karmonick at her computer terminal on numerous occasions, according to the AG’s office.

According to the release, an attorney general’s narcotics agent interviewed Karmonick at her home shortly after the thefts were uncovered, and she admitted stealing the medication, which she claimed was for personal use. In addition to the Oxycodone thefts, Karmonick allegedly stole multiple quantities of Morphine, Clonazepam, Lorazepam, Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen and Tramadol, according to the release.

The investigation is ongoing.

Karmonick was arrested Friday for the illegal drug diversions and thefts, and bail was set at $25,000 unsecured. A preliminary hearing was set for July 11. Karmonick will be prosecuted by the Schuylkill County district attorney’s office.

The AG noted studies showing that 75 percent of heroin users began their drug abuse by abusing prescription opioids. Oxycodone is an opioid pain medication. In 2017, Office of Attorney General agents have charged 96 people for illegally diverting prescription drugs – including 4 others in Harrisburg this week for using a doctor’s prescription pad to fraudulently obtain 3,000 Oxycodone pills.