OPERATION SAHARA WIND

DA Miles Describes Crackdown on narcotic, Medicaid Fraud
Scheme

CANTON - Operation Sahara Wind has swept through St. Lawrence County
and saved taxpayers millions of dollars in fraudulent Medicaid cost
while tackling the black market prescription drug business.

These were the words of Acting St. Lawrence County District Attorney
Gary Miles at Tuesday's press conference when he announced the arrest
of two individuals, one a pharmacist at the Gouverneur Correctional
Facility, in the county's investigation into area physicians
inappropriately prescribing and distributing controlled
medications.

Miles, and John P. Gilbride, Special Agent-in-charge of the New York
Field Division of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA), reported the arrest of Katherine M. Tyler, 40, of Ogdensburg,
and Marc J. Mahay, 36, of Hammond.

Mahay is charged with criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled
substance and criminal sale of controlled substance. Tyler is charged
with possession of narcotics with intent to sell and criminal sale of
a controlled substance.

"It's beyond understanding that putting a dent in the hemorrhagic flow
that in the next several years the county could easily be saving
millions of dollars," stated Miles.

Mahay was formerly employed at the New York State Correctional
Facility as a prison pharmacist. He resigned his position on Sept. 7,
police said.

There is no indication that any of these drugs found there way into
the correctional facility, Miles stated.

Miles also noted that some of the alleged purchases of controlled
substances were done over the Internet - a matter he called another
new dimension in la w enforcement.

Special Agent-in-Charge John P. Gilbride expressed his gratitude to
the investigators in this operation and to miles for their diligence
in pursuing and prosecuting area medical providers who have broken the
public trust by inappropriately prescribing and distributing
controlled medications that end up on the streets of our
communities.

"These prescriptions lead to the addictions, overdoses, and death of
their users. Prescription drugs can be life savers and life enhancers
when taken as medically directed; however, when they are taken with
disregard to their intended use they can cause serious health problems
and death," he said. "Of grave concern to the DEA is the fact that
these prescription pills also find their way into the hands of our
children, who consume the pills not knowing what the pills are or the
health consequences these pills may present."

The investigation, which is continuing, is being conducted by the Drug
Enforcement Administration, New York State Police, the St. Lawrence
County Sheriff, the New York Health Department, the state Department
of Corrections, and the District Attorney's Office. This case is being
prosecuted by Miles.

At Tuesday's news conference, Miles declined to identify a third area
physician allegedly involved in the illegal prescribing of narcotic
drugs. But sources have stated that Dr. Latimer, a former emergency
room physician at Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, has been ordered to
surrender his medical license for allegedly prescribing narcotics in
excessive amounts to patients.

Sources say Miles and the DEA have been investigating Latimer for more
than a year. Miles has said that the DEA investigation has been
looking at physicians who prescribe dangerous narcotics to individuals
in such large quantities that they can sell the drugs to addicts.

On Tuesday, Miles labeled the unnamed physician "as the leader of the
pack" for his over prescribing of "huge amounts" of controlled
substances - such as opiates and codeine-based narcotic drugs.

In May, police arrested Gouverneur physician Dr. Gail DeHart. She was
charged with the illegal distribution of controlled substances,
specifically the prescription painkiller OxyContin.

A month later, Gouverneur surgeon Dr. Charles Locke closed his office.
He had been told to surrender his medical license or face prosecution
for allegedly over-prescribing narcotics. It was noted Tuesday that
Dr. Locke has left the area.

Miles was joined at Tuesday's press conference by Sheriff Gary Jarvis,
Cpt. David Chauvin, New York State Police Troop B; and James T.
Farnsworth, resident in charge U.S. DEA.

"Prescription drugs have always been abused. The DEA has diversion
unit who regulate doctors, pharmacies, hospitals, and distributors,"
said Farnsworth. "As the DA said, this case will mean a significant
savings in tax dollars caused from abuse of the Medicaid system."

It said prescription drugs have become popular among teenagers because
they are "easy to transport, conceal and consume.