23 arrested in prescription drug sting

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- Detectives arrested 23 suspects during "Operation Script Rip" that targeted a group responsible for filling approximately 417 fraudulent prescriptions at local pharmacies in Pinellas County. An additional 18 suspects are still being sought with more than 200 criminal charges.

The investigation began in August 2015, when narcotics detectives received information that 35-year-old Rakiah Darden was providing fraudulent prescriptions for Xanax to associates of hers.

During the course of the investigation, detectives determined that Rakiah worked as a medical office assistant at Medical Home Doctors LLC located in St. Petersburg. During her employment there, Rakiah had complete access to the computer, fax machine, and the telephone in Dr. Jonadab Uzoho's office.

Through various investigative techniques, detectives determined that Rakiah was calling in and faxing fraudulent prescriptions to local pharmacies under the doctor's name without the doctor's knowledge.

Detectives say that Rakiah's brother, 26-year-old Rory Darden and three other criminal associates, 33-year-old Stephen Ford, 30-year-old Olympia Hines, and 23-year-old Fitzgerald Wright; recruited "runners" that went to the local pharmacies to pick up the Xanax prescriptions. Each prescription contained approximately 90, 2mg tablets.

After receiving the Xanax through fraudulent means, the "runners" returned the Xanax to Rakiah and her associates for cash or drugs. Rakiah and her associates then sold the Xanax illegally on the street.

Detectives estimate that Rakiah and her associates obtained approximately
37,410 total pills of Xanax, with an estimated street value of $5 a pill, totaling approximately $187,050 dollars.

The suspects arrested during "Operation Script Rip" are listed below with their charges. They were all transported to the Pinellas County Jail.

Additional arrests are forthcoming.

The video of the press conference can be seen HERE.

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The investigation continues.