California man arrested in eastern Idaho in prescription fraud scheme
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ST. ANTHONY — Deputies arrested a California man in St. Anthony after an alleged prescription fraud scheme.
Investigators say 24-year-old Ajaib Imran called Grand Peaks Pharmacy and tried to pick up a combination of two prescriptions, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Imran is now charged with felony prescription fraud and faces up to 20 years in prison.
The pharmacy contacted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office on March 10 after suspecting someone tried to obtain the drugs fraudulently. The pharmacist told deputies a man called their business claiming to be a doctor from Wendell, which is about three hours from St. Anthony.
The caller gave a woman’s name for the prescription. A suspicious pharmacist then called the doctor in Wendell and learned of several other calls in the last week asking for the combination of promethazine with codeine and amoxicillin.
Promethazine with codeine is a cough medication produced with an opiate, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Amoxicillin is an antibiotic often prescribed with stronger cough medicines like promethazine with codeine.
As detectives were investigating, a woman called the pharmacy and asked when the prescription would be ready. Deputies waited as the pharmacist told the caller it would be ready in about 30 minutes. Deputies determined there was no woman with that name and date of birth in their systems.
Eventually, a man, later identified as Imran, walked into the pharmacy and asked to pick up the woman’s prescription. According to court documents, Imran handed over his ID before deputies came from the back of the pharmacy and asked to speak with him.
Imran turned around and placed his hands behind his back when asked to go outside. Deputies handcuffed Imran, who said he had been sent by someone to pick up the medication. However, Imran declined to tell who the “big fish” was and was taken to the Fremont County Jail.
Although Imran is charged with a crime, it does not necessarily mean he committed it. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
A preliminary hearing for Imran is scheduled for March 24 before Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins.