City health clinic clerk arrested for allegedly selling drug prescriptions

City Inspector General Amy Kurland is fast becoming the scourge of would-be criminals in the city's workforce. This time she's identified a clerk with an alleged habit of selling stolen drug prescriptions. See the press release below for details.

Philadelphia, April 6, 2010 – City of Philadelphia Inspector General Amy L. Kurland, District Attorney R. Seth Williams, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey and DEA Special Agent-in-Charge John Bryfonski announce that Maria Josey, a clerk with City Health Care Center #5, was arrested April 5 on charges of selling stolen drug prescriptions.

Josey, 44, of the 1800 block of Ginnodo Street, allegedly took blank prescription pads from the health center, on the 1900 block of N. 20th Street, and sold individual prescriptions for $25 apiece. In addition, Josey allegedly forged physicians' signatures and vouched for her buyers when pharmacists called to verify the prescriptions.

The charges were the result of an investigation initiated by the Office of Inspector General and conducted jointly with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. Health Commissioner Donald F. Schwarz, who is also Deputy Mayor for Health and Opportunity, cooperated with the investigation.

Josey was released on $5,000 (10 percent) bail. A preliminary hearing has been set for April 12 at 8:00 a.m.
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