PHARMACY OWNER CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL DRUG SALES

CHESHIRE - The owner of a local pharmacy was charged Tuesday with selling
drugs to customers who did not have a prescription.

George Rizk, 64, of Waterbury, proprietor of George's Pharmacy at 2 Town
Center, was charged with illegal sale of a controlled substance and failure
to maintain controlled substance records, police said.

The arrest was based on an investigation conducted by the state Department
of Consumer Protection.

Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Mark Shiffrin said
information leading to Rizk's arrest was developed through a routine audit
of the pharmacy's records.

The audit allegedly revealed Rizk dispensed Percocet and Vicodin, both
narcotic pain relivers, without a prescription, Shiffrin said.

The sales are alleged to have taken place between June 1997 and July 1998,
Shiffrin said. The pharmacy is still open for business. Rizk could not be
reached for comment.