Feds Bust North Texas Prescription Drug Ring
DALLAS, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - Four North Texans have pleaded guilty to illegally getting their hands on prescription painkillers, then selling the pills on the streets.
Federal prosecutors say 35-year old John 'Leo' Smith of Balch Springs got his hands on real doctor prescription pads, then had two friends hire a homeless man to get the prescriptions filled.
According to prosecutors, the group would keep some of the pills they obtained through the forged documents and would sell the rest on the streets of Dallas, Lubbock and Abilene.
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Shamoil Shipchandler says it's a growing problem...and an out of town trip may be part of the process.
"The painkiller drugs tend to be on the streets a lot" said Shipchandler. "They tend to be pretty lucrative for people who want to distribute them."
Prosecutors say the scheme fell apart in Abilene when police caught the group trying to fill the prescriptions for high powered pain killers.
John Smith, (aka "Leo") of Balch Springs, 29-year old Crystal Nicole Burks and 36-year old Keith Deon Noel of Dallas; and 35-year old Lee Santrell Boston each faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $500,000 fine.
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