CASE UPDATE: 3 Charged in Drug Diversion Ring in Westmoreland, Fayette Counties Plead Guilty

November 18, 2019 | Topic: Criminal

HARRISBURG – Attorney General Josh Shapiro today said three of the six individuals charged with illegally obtaining prescription drugs for illicit use pleaded guilty today to their crimes. Sabrina Thomas, Jacqueline Keys and Adam Fincik entered their pleas before Westmoreland County Judge Bilik-DeFazio during what was originally scheduled as a status conference.

“Schemes like this are fueling the opioid epidemic across Pennsylvania,” General Shapiro said. “My office has prioritized stopping the illegal diversion of prescription medication and we’ll continue to crack down. These pills fuel the opioid public health crisis and each of these defendants has played a role in that.”

AG Shapiro said one of the other co-defendants, Brook Cross, approached Keys about obtaining fraudulent Buprenorphin prescriptions and gave Thomas the name of Keys’ boyfriend, Adam Fincik, for the pickup of the opioid. Thomas called in two fraudulent prescriptions for Buprenorphin and had Keys pick up one of the scripts in Fincik’s name. Fincik picked up the second prescription himself.

The offenses occurred in Westmoreland and Fayette counties between June 2015 and February 2016.

Thomas pleaded guilty today to acquisition by misrepresentation, corrupt organizations and identity theft and will be sentenced within 90 days. Keys pleaded guilty to acquisition by misrepresentation and was sentenced to three years of probation. Fincik pleaded guilty identity theft and was sentenced to two years of probation.

Rhonda Anthony and Rebekah Carwithen are the other two who have been charged in this case. Carwithen pleaded guilty in September.

On Sept. 27, 2018, Dr. Nabil Jabbour was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of unlawful distribution of Buprenorphine, maintaining a drug-involved premises, health care fraud and money laundering. Thomas was an employee of Jabbour’s.

This case is being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Tomm Mutschler.

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