A 49-year-old employee of a local pharmacy has been charged with forging $1.5 million in fake prescriptions for fentanyl, Greater Sudbury Police said in a news release Wednesday.
Lise Blanchette is facing a host of fraud-related charges, including identity theft, making forged documents and possession of illegal drugs.
The investigation began in May 2018 by the police's financial crimes unit “after concerns were brought forward by a co-worker,” the news release said.
“Through the investigation it was determined that between May 2016 and May 2018, the employee fabricated and forged over 225 non-existent prescriptions by entering falsified data into the pharmacy’s computer management system, acquiring 3,410 Fentanyl patches of various strengths,” the release said.
“She also falsified data for an additional 31 non-existent prescriptions in an attempt to obtain 475 more Fentanyl patches, however those transactions were not successful.”
The total street value of the fentanyl patches acquired over the two-year period is about $1.5 million, police said.
In addition to the forged documents, the woman is accused of committing multiple counts of identity theft by issuing the falsified prescriptions under the names of local physicians to various patients by using their personal information.
Blanchette was arrested Dec. 3 and charged with:
- Fraud over $5,000
- Making forged documents
- Using forged documents
- Ten counts of identity theft
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking a Schedule I substance – Fentanyl
She was released on a promise to appear with a court date of Jan. 8, 2020.
