JOJOM
Banned for off topic discussions, confronting mods in public, and being unpolite to members and mods
Reged: 08/16/03
Posts: 358
Loc: Yankee
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TROUBLE!
Quote:
Dentist's employee accused of ordering phony prescriptions
Authorities say she and a co-worker phoned in at least eight Vicodin prescriptions to two stores.
By BRADY DENNIS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 25, 2002
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ZEPHYRHILLS -- A Zephyrhills dentist office employee was arrested Tuesday after investigators said she and a co-worker repeatedly called in Vicodin prescriptions to pharmacies on both sides of the county.
Reports stated that Maria Frances Laffey, 40, of 9613 Scot St. in Hudson, and the female co-worker used their "positions of trust" under Dr. James Costello to phone in at least eight phony prescriptions of the drug.
Vicodin, also known as hydrocodone, combines a narcotic painkiller and cough reliever with a nonnarcotic painkiller for the relief of moderate to severe pain.
If taken consistently, the drug can be habit forming.
Investigators said the two employees called the prescriptions into Walgreens at 6429 Gall Blvd. in Zephyrhills and the Eckerd drugstore at 12015 Little Road in Hudson. They usually ordered 20 pills.
According to reports, Laffey often talked her co-worker into placing the order in Laffey's name, saying that she needed it for her husband's back pain or for her migraine headaches. Laffey would then pick up the order and pay for it.
Investigators declined to name the co-worker on Wednesday, saying the investigation is ongoing. Reports stated that the co-worker offered to turn herself in later.
Both women told authorities that Costello had no knowledge that they were placing the prescriptions.
Laffey faces eight charges of trafficking in a controlled substance -- four from the Zephyrhills Police Department and four from Pasco County sheriff's deputies.
She was taken to the Land O'Lakes Jail. Jail officials on Wednesday evening had only five charges on record so far against Laffey. They said she remained in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail.
-- Brady Dennis covers the city of Zephyrhills and crime in east Pasco. To reach him, call (352) 521-5757, ext. 23, or toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6108, then 23. His e-mail address is
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/04/25/Pasco/Dentist_s_employee_ac.shtml
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Nothing makes a woman more beautiful than the belief she is beautiful.
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PrivateRealm
Threadhead
Reged: 03/18/03
Posts: 879
Loc: usa
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Trouble for them, but at least this one was not about OP's. My daughter's stepmother gotin trouble for this when she was pregnant(she was wrking for a Dr.), and was met by the police. All she got was 2 weeks rehab and no other legal consequences. It probably happens in the medical field more than we know.
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KeriAnne~~~
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take - but by the moments that take our breath away."
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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Sheesh! ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS BAIL??? Some child molesters and murder suspects don't get such a high bail!
I wonder if the Feds will prosecute this? If so, she's in deep doo doo.
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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NJ_Hoss
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/29/03
Posts: 263
Loc: USA
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Not that murderers, rapists, and molesters shouldn't have to pony-up their very souls before receiving bail, but in this case, it could depend on whether authorities charged each incident as a separate offense, which is likely, even though they would likely be later combined or concurrently sentenced at trial or sentencing, the statute under which they were charged, and whether it included forgery, obtaining a prescription through fraudulent means, conspiracy, or any others in addition to any controlled substance charges. Nickles and dimes can multiply very quickly. Plus, it may be possible that either one or both have other pending charges, probation, or other mitigating factors that might make them particularly less likely to show up for trial without such a substantial assurance.
Personally, I think their bail was likely to have been $5,000 with an additional $95,000 tacked on, not because they are likely to jump bail, but because risking so much for calling in 20 tablets demonsrates that they might be dumb enough to simply forget!
Sorry. I didn't mean to make light of a serious and sad situation, but sometimes all you can do is shake your head.
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Caveman6666
Enthusiast
Reged: 01/15/03
Posts: 218
Loc: Earth
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Quote:
Sheesh! ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS BAIL??? Some child molesters and murder suspects don't get such a high bail!
I wonder if Jeb Bushes daughter had such a high bail?
Edited by Caveman6666 (02/13/04 06:32 AM)
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Dasani
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/29/03
Posts: 286
Loc: FL
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Bail can depart upward or downward depending on many factors,(county residency, criminal history, flight risk,) but the severity level of the crime determines the base or floor amount. The penalty in this case would be $15,000 per 2nd degree felony, if she is a county resident, making her bail $120,000. However, the US Constitution gaurantees her the right to a bail that is not excessive, therefore the judge lowered it to $100,000 based on his discretion. She's still looking at over 30 years inprisonment if convicted on all counts, how stupid could she be? 85 percent of Florida felony cases end in a plea bargain, so she'll probably plead out and get 1 year in a county jail, mandatory rehab, 5 years probabtion, and pay the full amount of fines which could total over $100,000, if she cooperates and drops a dime on the others that were involved. Just my .02 cents.
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Steffie
Member
Reged: 04/11/02
Posts: 103
Loc: Southwest
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I agree, the bail is ridiculous. I was in a very serious DUI accident and the idiot that hit me - we couldn't get his bail above $15,000! But something like this, I think you would harm yourself, and look at the amount! I've also seen crimes involving inanimate objects and the bail was set at $90,000 (my neighbor was stealing heavy construction equipment and driving over ATM's to steal the money inside). $90,000 - but I could only manage $15,000 for almost being killed!! Oh well, shows how much human life means to the gov't. I'll get off my soapbox now. Everyone, have a great 3-Day!!
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Dasani
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/29/03
Posts: 286
Loc: FL
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Steffie,
I empathize with you and your unfortunate accident, but I can honestly say that I am very grateful the "victim" has absolutely no input where a suspect's bail is concerned. That is strictly up to the judge and for a good reason. A judge is a neutral party and able to make rational decisions that exclude emotions, unlike a victim who's emotions would get in the way of determining an unbiased and fair bail amount. However, the victim does have a chance to be heard in court and has the opportunity to influence the judge and jury as far as sentencing is concerned though, and for that I am grateful as well. I only mention this because I wouldn't want to be the suspect that was rotting in jail with excessive bond placed on me, strictly because the victim has no concept of the US Constitution and the rights provided to us as Americans. Always remember that as Americans we still have the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise.
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prettyday
Threadhead
Reged: 02/09/03
Posts: 901
Loc: Coastal Sage Scrub
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Walgreens?????!!!!!! Eckerd's??????
D'oooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh!
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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
- Mahatma Gandhi
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DAdrian
Newbie
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 36
Loc: California
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Quote:
Quote:
Sheesh! ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS BAIL??? Some child molesters and murder suspects don't get such a high bail!
I wonder if Jeb Bushes daughter had such a high bail?
RIGHT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
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Devon :-)
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Steffie
Member
Reged: 04/11/02
Posts: 103
Loc: Southwest
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Dasani, thanks for responding. I started typing a long reply and my 5 year old hit a key, and there went all my thoughts!!!! Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for your response. I gues I had/have too much anger to feel much for the other guy's side. While I do agree "innocent til proven guilty", when you're blood level is .34, not breath but BLOOD, and this is your 4th DUI, 2nd accident, sorry, but I can't see too much "innocent til...". And I have tried to forgive this guy for what he did to my life,there is still a little part that is not. Thanks for letting me vent, this subject is just a little too touchy for me. Yeah, bail should be adjusted according to the case/circumstances, but destroying an inanimate object vs. DUI with devastating bodily injury is a little different. Sorry, how did I get off the subect again? Sorry, everyone have a great weekend.
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tray1
Enthusiast
Reged: 11/22/03
Posts: 241
Loc: US
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Steffie,
Dont be sorry you have a valid point, I dont even pretend to be able to interpret the laws (dont have the patience) but I definately feel as a human being that you were done a great injustice and Yes a human life should be valued far higher then inanimate objects......just goes to show how twisted our justice system really is.....
Tray
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