Pennsylvania AG Announces Break-Up Of Northampton County Prescription Drug Ring

April 7, 2008 -- ALLENTOWN - Fifteen suspected drug dealers and users were charged today by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office with passing fraudulent prescriptions, illegally distributing Percocet and exchanging heroin for prescription drugs.

Pennsylvania prescription drug ring

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Attorney General Tom Corbett said the investigation, known as "Operation Bad Scripts," began in January 2008 and focused on the illegal prescription distribution ring of Melinda Miller, 26, 318 Johnsonville Road, Bangor, Northampton County.

Opr Bad Scripts chartEvidence and testimony regarding the case was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed today.

Corbett said that the investigation began when an Easton pharmacist contacted agents regarding two fraudulent Percocet prescriptions from a Phillipsburg, New Jersey dentist, with distinctively different signatures.

According to the grand jury, Miller was a receptionist at the Phillipsburg dental office at the time the fraudulent prescriptions were discovered.

Grand jury testimony revealed that the dentist rarely prescribed Percocet pills and that 27 out of the 33 patients listed under his name as having received Percocet were not issued legitimate prescriptions.

Corbett said that the prescriptions Miller allegedly forged were always in the amount of 30 pills and were passed to pharmacies between Oct. 15, 2007 and Jan. 14, 2008.

The grand jury found that Miller used her own identity and the identities of others to acquire Percocet pills from various pharmacies in the Easton area.

Corbett said that Donald Smith and James Bruneio introduced Miller to local drug users, who either bought forged prescriptions for $60 to $100 apiece or filled Percocet scripts for Miller.

According to agents, the individuals who filled prescriptions for Miller were given bags of heroin. Miller then allegedly sold the filled Percocet prescriptions in order to buy more heroin for herself.

"Heroin use in the Lehigh Valley is a serious problem," Corbett said. "Especially in Northampton County, where there are some addicts who use 20 to 30 bags a day."

"This case combines the deadly addictions of heroin and prescription drugs into a vicious cycle of illegal distribution throughout the Lehigh Valley," Corbett said.

Corbett noted that this is part of a continuing investigation.

The case will be prosecuted in Northampton County by Deputy Attorney General Amy Phillips of the Attorney General's Drug Strike Force.

A full list of the defendants and the charges against them is below.

--Melinda Miller, 26, 318 Johnsonville Road, Bangor, is charged with 34 counts of forgery, 12 counts of possession, 10 counts of possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, two counts of criminal conspiracy and one count of corrupt organizations.

--James Bruneio, 21, currently incarcerated in Northampton County Prison, is charged with four counts of possession, three counts of possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of corrupt organizations.

--Donald Smith, 30, 42 S. 14th St., Easton, is charged with two counts of possession, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of corrupt organizations.

--Ezra Poff, 27, 2101 Hay St., Easton, is charged with one count each of possession and criminal conspiracy.

--Michael Graziano, 19, 4233 S. 19th St., Easton, is charged with seven counts of possession, three counts of possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of corrupt organizations.

--William Moulton, 23, currently incarcerated in Northampton County Prison, is charged with two counts of possession, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of corrupt organizations.

--Ricardo Cabrera, 24, 2306 Birch St., Easton, is charged with one count of possession and one count of criminal conspiracy.

--Kyle Lynn, 19, currently incarcerated in Northampton County Prison, is charged with one count of possession and one count of criminal conspiracy.

--Kyle Bonatz, 22, 800 American Drive, Easton, is charged with one count of possession.

--Melissa Anderson, 25, 241 Springhill Road, Riegelsville, Bucks County, is charged with one count of possession and one count of criminal conspiracy.

--Travis Lippincott, 24, 1239 Durham Rd., Riegelsville, Bucks County, is charged with one count of possession and one count of criminal conspiracy.

--Michael Christopher, 19, 1342 Lehigh St., Easton, is charged with five counts of possession, one count of possession with the intent to deliver, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of corrupt organizations.

--Stefanie Gresiak, 44, 2655 Eldridge St., Easton, is charged with two counts of possession, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of corrupt organizations.

--Sean Handlovic, 19, 738 East Waters St., Lock Haven, Clinton County, is charged with six counts of possession and one count of corrupt organizations.

--Keith Jumper, 19, 515 Royal Manor Road, Easton, is charged with one count of possession and one count of criminal conspiracy.

(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

Source: Pennsylvania Attorney General