CHESTERTOWN — Police on April 15 charged a Laurel man with crimes related to trying to obtain a controlled substance by fraud at a local pharmacy.
Francis Achang Okebugwu, 33, initially was held in the Kent County Detention Center without bond.
Because this case is believed to be connected to similar incidents in the region, the Drug Enforcement Administration was briefed on Okebugwu’s arrest and will conduct additional follow-up to other cases, according to the Chestertown Police Department.
According to a CPD news release, police officers on April 14 responded to Chester River Pharmacy for a report of someone presenting a fake prescription for the medication promethazine with codeine.
Promethazine with codeine is classified as a controlled substance, meaning its availability and use are regulated due to its potential for misuse and addiction.
The following day, a man subsequently identified as Okebugwu showed up at the pharmacy and stated he was there to pick up the prescription for his friend.
According to the news release, Okebugwu provided pharmacy staff with a South Dakota driver’s license.
He left the pharmacy without the prescription and the license.
CPD officers responded to the pharmacy and determined that the license was fraudulent.
A short while later, while a police officer was waiting out of sight in the pharmacy, Okebugwu returned and again attempted to pick up the prescription and retrieve his identification.
He was arrested and transported to the Chestertown police station for processing.
Okebugwu was charged with obtaining a controlled dangerous substance by fraud; obtaining a controlled dangerous substance by false identification; obtaining a prescription by fraud; and possess, use a false government identification.
He has a trial scheduled for June 9 in the District Court for Kent County.