As the Florida Department of Law Enforcement continues to uncover how deep Pace Pharmacy’s alleged illegal drug ring goes, the most recent arrest of the pharmacy’s owners sheds more light on what they believe went on behind the scenes.
FDLE special agents re-arrested Stephen and Monique Burklow June 23 on dozens of new drug charges related to the agency’s initial, yearslong investigation into an an alleged “criminal organization (that) involved racketeering activities.” Agents also arrested their daughter, Laikyn, on a misdemeanor drug possession charge.
New FDLE documents show that Stephen Burklow allegedly used the identity of numerous local doctors to write himself prescriptions, which were found in possession of all three Burklow family members in some capacity during a May 14 raid of their Wallace Lake Road home.
Agents found at least 30 different controlled medications all allegedly fraudulently written by Stephen Burklow using multiple doctors’ names from Santa Rosa and Escambia counties.
Which doctors did Stephen Burklow and Monique Burklow use to get prescriptions?
According to FDLE, every prescription found during the raid of the Burklow home had a doctor who previously reported identity theft and unauthorized use of their Nation Provider Identification (NPI). Agents say every medication found under a doctor’s name was not authorized by said doctor.
The following doctors’ names were found on the prescription medication uncovered during the raid:
Monique Burklow and Laikyn Burklow receive unauthorized medication, FDLE says
During the course of the alleged unauthorized prescriptions, agents found Monique Burklow possess at least five different medications fraudulently filled under Dean’s name. They are:
During the same raid, agents found Laikyn Burklow allegedly possessed four different medications fraudulently filled under Sherouse’s name, including:
What are Stephen Burklow, Monique Burklow and Laikyn Burklow’s charges?
Stephen Burklow was arrested on 10 felony counts of possessing a controlled substance without a prescription, five felony counts of identity theft and 10 misdemeanor counts of possessing certain drugs without a prescription.
Monique Burklow was arrested on one felony count of possessing a controlled substance without a prescription and four misdemeanor counts of possessing certain drugs without a prescription.
Laikyn Burklow was arrested on one misdemeanor count of possessing certain drugs without a prescription.
Who are Stephen and Monique Burklow?
Stephen “Steve” A. Burklow, 54, and Monique Hunter Burklow, 58, are spouses and the owners of Pace Pharmacy, located at 4880 Woodbine Road.
Stephen A. Burklow was licensed as a pharmacist Aug. 3, 1993, according to Florida Department of Health records, and has been an independent pharmacy owner for 20 years, according to his website. He previously owned and operated Burklow Pharmacy, also in Pace.
He specializes in compounding, the practice of mixing customer-specific medications in house, and independent retail pharmacy.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pace Pharmacy owner allegedly stole doctors’ identities to write, fill prescriptions
Reporting by Benjamin Johnson, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
