SHAMOKIN - Five local residents charged by the state attorney general's office and local police with "doctor shopping" for deceptively obtaining pain killers from multiple doctors had their cases sent to the Court of Common Pleas in Sunbury on Tuesday.
Joshua Howard Greenwood, 35, and his 28-year-old wife, Krystal M. Greenwood, of 1103 E. Race St., Coal Township, were held for court on 11 counts each of "doctor shopping" filed by narcotics agent Duane Musser and Shamokin Cpl. Bryan Primerano relating to incidents at Rite Aid Pharmacy in Shamokin between March 27, 2012, and Feb. 4, and Weis Pharmacy in Coal Township between July 10, 2012, and March 18.
Krystal Greenwood is accused of having prescriptions filled at Rite Aid for oxycodone/hydrochloride or oxycodone/acetaminophen that were authorized by Dr. Mahmood Nassir, of Sunbury, by deceiving the physician into believing he was the only prescriber who approved the controlled substances for the defendant.
Her husband allegedly had prescriptions filled at Weis Pharmacy for oxycodone hydrochloride authorized by Dr. Daniel Walker of the Penn Medical Group in Lehighton.
Joshua Greenwood also is charged by Coal Township Patrolman Edward Purcell with two counts of possession with intent to deliver five tablets of oxycodone.
Krystal Greenwood is charged by Purcell with possession with intent to deliver five oxycodone pills and criminal conspiracy.
Police said the offenses occurred Nov. 29 at the Greenwood residence.
The Greenwoods were represented by Attorney Richard Feudale of Mount Carmel.
Christopher P. Bachorik, 42, and Charlotte M. Allen, 30, both of 108 S. Fifth St., Shamokin, and Tammie S. Miller, 45, of 335 Susquehanna St., Trevorton, waived their cases to court.
Bachorik is charged by Primerano and Musser with 20 counts of acquiring or obtaining possession of a controlled substance by deception. Police said the defendant had prescriptions filled at Rite Aid Pharmacy for oxycodone/acetaminophen, fetanyl, oyxcontin and/or morphine sulfate authorized by Nassir by deceiving the doctor into believing he was the only prescriber approving controlled substances for him.
Police said Bachorik's offenses occurred between March 23, 2012, and Feb. 5.
Allen was charged by Primerano and Musser with 10 counts of the same offense for having prescriptions filled at Rite Aid Pharmacy between July 24 and Dec. 14, 2012, for oxycodone/acetaminophen and oxycontin authorized by Nassir.
Miller is charged by Musser and Primerano with one count of the same offense for having eight prescriptions filled for oxycodone/acetaminophe authorized by Nassir, and 12 prescriptions filled for oxycodone/hydrochloride and two prescriptions filled for oxycodone/acetaminophen authorized by Dr. Raymond Kraynak of Mount Carmel.
Police said the offenses occurred between Jan. 14 and Aug. 1, 2012, at CVS Pharmacy in Shamokin.
All five defendants were ordered to appear for plea court Sept. 23 at Northumberland County Courthouse in Sunbury, where they can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty.