Polk County, Florida -- Polk Sheriff Grady Judd told residents in March that the arrest of a woman operating a "pill mill" clinic was just the beginning and he's making good on his word.
"In March we told you this was only the beginning. We are going to continue to seek and find those who have worked with
Patricia Osbourn putting dangerous drugs on the street and attempt to put them
in jail," Sheriff Judd said. "We are also going to investigate those who we find 'doctor
shopping' and put them in jail."
Over the last two days, Polk County detectives have charged 13 additional suspects connected to the Key Medical Clinic and identified 12 others who were "doctor shopping" throughout the county. On Wednesday, 10 were arrested and 15 remain at large.
Mug Shot Gallery: 10 arrested in Polk pill mill investigation
During their investigation into Patricia "Trish" Osbourn's operation, detectives learned she was illegally forging prescriptions for controlled narcotics -- using two different doctors' names and DEA numbers whom she hired at the clinic -- and gave them to Elizabeth "Liz" Sykes.
Sykes then used recruiters, one of whom was identified as Gwendolyn Ward, to recruit "smurfs" to get the prescriptions filled at various pharmacies around Polk County. The "smurfs" would then give the pills to Ward for cash who would then give them to Sykes.
On March 9, Tiffany Olaitan, who was allegedly involved in the operation, was arrested and charged.
Detectives have continued to work this case and are still looking for the following suspects who they say are connected to the Key Clinic "pill mill" operation:
- Rodrick Neal, of Winter Haven
- Loretta May, of Winter Haven
- Antonio Buckner, of Winter Haven
- Angela Lewis, of Winter Haven
- Leniar Manns, of Winter Haven
- Angela Dunlap, of Auburndale
- Marrah McKenzie, of Winter Haven
- Vernon Hartage, of Auburndale
- Angela Williams, of Winter Haven
- Alicia Smith, of Winter Haven
- Betty Patterson, of Winter Haven
The following suspects are still at large on charges of "doctor shopping":
- Russell Coulter, of Lakeland
- Jennifer Jones, of Winter Haven
- Joshua Stewart, of Lakeland
- Janet Hunt, of Eloise
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