NURSE’S AID CHARGED IN DRUG SCHEME

Salisbury- A woman who police say scammed pharmacies in as many as
four counties out of narcotic painkillers over the last decade was
arrested Friday. Verna Denise Ellison, 41, of Kenosha Avenue,
Salisbury was charged with fraud to obtain drugs and other offenses,
according to Princess Anne Police.

Ellison is accused of calling in fake prescriptions fro the drug
hydrocodone. She was arrested after a CVS Pharmacy pharmacist in
Princess Anne recognized her voice when she came in to pick up the
prescription.

Ellison called CVS as many as 10 times in the last four months,
identifying herself as a nurse in a doctor’s office, said officer
Scott Keller of the Princess Anne police,

Ellison allegedly called in the prescriptions under two or three
different names.

Ellison said she became addicted to the drug after a doctor prescribed
it for sinus pain several years ago, police said.

Ellison reportedly told police she learned how to call in the
prescription by listening to nurses call in legitimate orders.
Ellison also told police she is a nursing assistant at a home health
care agency in Salisbury.

Jeff Sherr, a pharmacist at Apple Discount Drugs in Salisbury said
pharmacist rely on their own judgment to sniff out fake
prescriptions.

Although pharmacist do not receive formal training on detecting
fraudulent prescriptions, Sherr said the system works fairly well and
fraudulent prescriptions are usually detected.

Agents from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration assisted
police in obtaining search and arrest warrants from a Wicomico judge.

Investigators said there is currently no evidence to suggest Ellison
was selling the drugs, but the case is still under
investigation.

Ellison was held in Sommerset County Detention Center on $1,000
bond.