Alleged ‘pill mill’ shut down that operated in York and 16 other counties

(Undated) — State and local law enforcement recently busted an alleged prescription drug ring, or “pill mill,” they said operated in York County, and 16 other counties, according to state Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

Charging documents identify Tracie M. Peurifoy, 37, of the 1300 block of Devereux Avenue, Philadelphia, as the mastermind behind the alleged drug ring and nine other men and women as her minions.

Using computers, fake prescription paper and rental cars, the ring fraudulently procured  more than 3,500 Oxycodone pills and other drugs – worth about $75,000 – across Pennsylvania between October 2017 and September 2017, documents state.

Through their investigation, detectives determined Peurifoy was the head of the organization. In February, an informant told a state agent that Peurifoy printed fraudulent prescriptions on prescription paper she kept in her home.

“Peurifoy directed the other co-conspirators to specific Pennsylvania pharmacies and rented vehicles for them,” documents state. “The co-conspirators received cash for their participation … (and) all of the pills that were fraudulently obtained from the pharmacies were delivered to T. Peurifoy.”

In Fairview Township

The case began in June in Fairview Township, York County, when a doctor from Luzerne County noticed a prescription he did not write had been filled using his name and reported the issue Shapiro’s office.

Through their investigation, detectives found that, on June 28, Peurifoy and Russel Morris, 32, of Montgomery County, walked into the CVS Pharmacy, 560 Old York Road, Fairview Township, and presented two fraudulent prescriptions. A pharmacist then filled the prescriptions for Oxycodone and Alprazolam, documents state.

A state agent warned pharmacy staff about the pair and any similar prescriptions in the future. On July 2, Morris walked into the same store and tried to fill three prescriptions. A pharmacist refused to fill them, but was able to copy the prescriptions before returning them to Morris, documents state.

Morris then went on to get prescriptions filled at a CVS in Middletown, Dauphin County, documents state.

In his news release, Shapiro praised all the doctors who supported the investigation.

“Because of these doctors’ vigilance, our agents and local police were able to identify and break up this prescription pill mill,” he said. “We’re asking pharmacists and medical professionals across our Commonwealth: If you see something wrong, say something. We’ll act on your information.”   

‘Fueling the opioid crisis’

Shapiro said that as an opioid crisis grips the country, it is clear that law enforcement must focus on arresting and prosecuting dealers.

“We’re prosecuting dealers who are fueling this crisis, whether it’s heroin on street corners or illegal pills from a doctor’s pad,” Shapiro said. “Prescription drug abuse is fueling the opioid crisis in Pennsylvania, and my office is focused on stopping the illegal diversion of these powerful drugs.”

According to Shapiro’s office, studies show that 80 percent of heroin users began their drug abuse by using prescription drugs. Last year, state agents charged 216 persons for illegally diverting prescription drugs, a 72 percent increase over 2016.

Since Shapiro took office in 2017, his office has collected and destroyed more than 63 tons of drugs through partnerships with local law enforcement, district attorneys, the Pennsylvania State Police and the National Guard, the release states. 

List of co-conspirators

In addition to Peurifoy and Morris, eight others were charged with various felony drug offenses:

• Latoya Peurifoy, 41, of Philadelphia
• Christian Eleby-Lackey, 30, of Philadelphia
• Shane Harris, 24, of Elkins Park
• Dashonna Hoskins, 22, of Philadelphia (still at large)
• Troy Thomas, 29, Philadelphia (still at large)
• Sharee Hall, 33, of Chester (still at large)
• Marquan Toure El, 24, of Philadelphia
• Lueveater Smith, 37, of Philadelphia

This story comes to us through a partnership between WITF and The York Daily Record.