August 17, 2007

Carbon County man charged with illegally selling prescription drugs

HARRISBURG - A Carbon County man, who works as a substitute teacher in the Palmerton School District, has been charged with illegally selling prescription drugs.

Attorney General Tom Corbett identified the defendant as Ronal F. Austin, 66, 285-12 Lower Nis Hollow Drive, Lehighton.

According to the criminal complaint, on Feb. 5, 2007, Austin told an undercover narcotics agent and a confidential informant that he had Percocet to sell, but that he had to be paid $5.50 per pill.  Austin allegedly sold the undercover agent 20 Percocet pills for $110.

Corbett said that a month after the initial purchase, Austin telephoned the agent and made arrangements for another purchase of Percocet.  On March 7, 2007, Austin allegedly sold 40 Percocet pills, which contained 20.9 grams of Oxycodone, for $220.

During the controlled buy, Austin allegedly told the agent that he would be getting Vicodin to sell for $3.50 a pill, within the next few weeks.

Corbett said that following both controlled purchases, the Percocet was submitted for laboratory testing, which confirmed that the pills contained Oxycodone.

Corbett explained that Oxycodone is a Schedule II controlled substance that is a highly addictive and sought after prescription drug.

"Prescription narcotic drugs are intended for one purpose; treating pain," Corbett said. "Abusing prescription drugs does not have the same social stigma as illegal drug abuse, but these drugs can be just as deadly as heroin or cocaine, and the impact of addiction, crime and other related problems can be just as harmful." 

Austin is charged with four counts of delivery of a controlled substance, and ungraded felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

He was preliminarily arraigned before Carbon County Magisterial District Judge Edward Lewis and released on $15,000 unsecured bail.  A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 22, 2007 at 1:15 p.m.

Austin will be prosecuted by Carbon County District Attorney Gary Dobias' office.

(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

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