Tom Corbett on the Job: 18 charged in western Pa. prescription drug ring

The Associated Press
Updated: 04/23/2010 03:21:56 PM EDT

HARRISBURG, Pa.—State officials say 18 people have been charged with obtaining thousands of Oxycodone pills from pharmacies throughout southwestern Pennsylvania using forged prescriptions.

Attorney General Tom Corbett announced Friday that the charges were the result of a nearly year long investigation.

The state alleges the leaders of the ring used a computer to create phony prescriptions. Authorities say the others charged used those prescriptions during 56 trips to at least 17 pharmacies in Fayette, Westmoreland, Allegheny and Washington counties.

Corbett says the state believes the group obtained about 250,000 milligrams of Oxycodone with an estimated street value of $500,000.