A federal grand jury has indicted three people following a DEA investigation that uncovered the diversion of drugs originally intended for a Glasgow pharmaceutical supplier.
Robert Newman, Isaac Newman and Sarah D’Auria face charges of theft of medical products-conspiracy, along with two counts of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
The indictment, filed on November 13 in the Western District of Kentucky federal court, outlines the allegations against the trio.
Court records revealed the DEA’s Louisville Division began investigating in July after their Syracuse, New York office flagged 10 controlled substance shipments from Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals in Hobart, New York.
These shipments, meant for Richie Pharmacal LLC in Glasgow, were redirected to other locations, including Dollar General stores in Bowling Green and Scottsville.
The shipments contained powerful controlled substances, including fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone and lisdexamfetamine.
In total, more than 846,000 dosage units valued at over $100,000 went missing.
To identify the suspects, DEA agents used decoy shipments filled with Skittles candy to mimic the sound of pills and embedded tracking devices. They discovered that individuals with access to FedEx tracking numbers redirected shipments to unauthorized locations, including Dollar General stores in Bowling Green and Scottsville.
On August 21, surveillance footage showed a man pulling a wagon to claim diverted packages at a Dollar General in Scottsville. This same individual attempted to pick up additional boxes at a later date.
The investigation escalated on October 14, when Glasgow Police responded to a report of a missing shipment of promethazine with codeine intended for Richie Pharmacal.
A delivery driver said he was told the loading dock was “down,” and was instructed to place the shipments in the bed of a white pickup truck.
The truck was marked with a counterfeit Richie Pharmacal logo, according to court records.
Authorities used FLOCK camera systems to track a black passenger car and a white pickup truck used in the theft. Both vehicles were rented at Nashville International Airport on October 14.
According to records, D’Auria, of Victorville, California, rented the pickup truck. Robert Newman, of Phelan, California, rented the black passenger car.
The FLOCK system is linked to a national crime database, and allowed authorities to trace the vehicles to states, including Minnesota, Colorado and Utah. Court records said authorities believed the shipments were on the way to California.
On October 17, police in Washington City, Utah stopped the rental truck on Interstate 15.
Inside, officers found Isaac Newman and D’Auria along with 184 bottles of promethazine with codeine—a street value of $644,000, according to a sworn affidavit from a DEA agent.
Police said a black backpack in the truck contained $30,000 to $40,000 in cash.
The stolen shipment from Glasgow had included 288 bottles, and police were able to recover 184 of them during the stop.
Authorities in Glasgow discovered the black passenger car, rented by Robert Newman, was returned to a rental car facility and exchanged for another passenger car in Colorado.
The vehicle contained a GPS system, according to court records.
Authorities tracked Robert Newman’s movements using a GPS system installed in a second rental car. On October 17, police intercepted him in Vail, Colorado.
According to Colorado officials, Newman was released from custody while officers waited for a search warrant on his vehicle.
Police eventually discovered several bottles of hydrocodone, shotgun shells and various stolen items inside the car.
The bottles of hydrocodone contained information linking them back to the stolen shipment originally diverted to Dollar General in Bowling Green.
Isaac Newman and D’Auria have pleaded not guilty. An additional hearing is set for December 10 in Bowling Green.
Robert Newman remains at large. A warrant for his arrest is active.
Source: WBKO
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