Teachers, Doctor Accused of Prescription Drug Ring, Police Say
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iStock/Thinkstock(CHINA GROVE, N.C.) — An elementary school teacher and her doctor husband hatched an elaborate prescription pill scheme to feed their own drug habits, police said.
Five other school employees and another person in Rowan County, North Carolina, were also charged with being involved in the drug ring.
Police say this how the scheme happened: The teachers filled bogus prescriptions for hydrocodone written by the husband, Dr. Orrin Walker, and then brought the pills right back to him and his wife, Abby Walker, the China Grove Police Department said.
The Walkers obtained about 25,000 pills from about 200 illegal prescriptions over 17 months, according to police.
ABC News could not reach the Walkers for comment. It is not clear if they have an attorney.
Abby Walker is accused of convincing two fellow teachers at Bostian Elementary School in China Grove to join the pill ring. She also lured a teacher from Southside Christian Academy in Salisbury, an administrative assistant from McKnight School in Kannapolis and a friend to help fill the illegal prescriptions, police said.
The suspects exchanged information at the schools but students were never in danger, Police Chief Eddie Kluttz said.
Orrin Walker worked at the Main Street Family Practice in Salisbury. His medical license is now inactive, according to the North Carolina Medical Board.
His wife was suspended from her position at Bostian Elementary School in March when the school learned of the police investigation and she later resigned, the school said in a statement.
Orrin and Abby Walker were charged with Level III Trafficking Opiates By Possession. The other six suspects were charged with multiple counts each of Conspiracy to Commit Prescription Fraud/Forgery, police said.
Authorities expect the Walkers and the other suspects to turn themselves in on Wednesday.
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