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The investigators focused on prescriptions allegedly written by 56-year-old Dr. Claude Fanelli of Harrisburg, formerly a cardiologist with the Penn State Hershey Heart and Vascular Institute.
Attorney General Kathleen Kane said a grand jury found that Fanelli would sell pre-signed prescriptions to 41-year-old Donna Essis-Danfora of York, Pa. for $1,000 each.
Essis-Danfora would allegedly fill in names on the scripts and relay that information to Fanelli so he could verify the prescriptions with central Pennsylvania pharmacies, the grand jury found.
Once the prescriptions were filled, Essis-Danfora allegedly sold the pills for $20 to $30 per tablet.
Investigators say approximately 26 fraudulent prescriptions were signed by Fanelli for some 4,400 Oxycodone pills. The pills had a street value of $111,000.
Essis-Danfora also allegedly enlisted the help of other people, including a former student at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster. Some of the pills were sold on the Franklin and Marshall campus, Kane said.
"Prescription drug abuse is the nation's fastest growing drug problem," Kane said in a news release. "It is a deadly struggle that is affecting communities across Pennsylvania."
Kane said Fanelli has voluntarily surrendered his DEA license and his medical license issued by the state of Pennsylvania.
The suspects charged in this case are:
--Dr. Claude Fanelli, 56, of Gallop Road, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, is charged with one count of administering, dispensing, delivering or prescribing a controlled substance not in accordance with treatment principles accepted by the medical profession, one count of delivery of Oxycodone, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver Oxycodone, and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.
--Donna Essis-Danfora, 49, of South Pine St., York, York County, is charged with three counts of delivery of Oxycodone, one count of criminal attempt to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, one count of possession of Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, one count of criminal conspiracy to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver Oxycodone, one count of corrupt organizations, and one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.
--April Williams, 43, of Lincoln St., York, York County, is charged with one count of criminal attempt to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, one count of criminal conspiracy to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.
--Gregg Williams, 23, of Phelps Road, Benton, Kentucky, is charged with three counts of possession of Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, two counts of criminal attempt to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.
--Travis Thorpe, 22, of Birch St., Benton, Kentucky, is charged with one count of possession of Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.
--Eric Sargen, 44, of Timbervilla, Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, is charged with one count of possession of Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.
--David Stewart, 58, last known address on Pine St., York, York County, is charged with three counts of possession of Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.
--Joseph Parker, 22, last known address on South Front St., York, York County, is charged with one count of possession of Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.
--Wadie Danfora, 23, of South Pine St., York, York County, is charged with two counts of possession of Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, one count of delivery of Oxycodone, one count of criminal conspiracy to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, and one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver Oxycodone.
--Amanda Tsykalyuk, 29, last known address of South Front St., York Haven, York County, is charged with one count of possession of Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.
--Wilfredo Sanchez Jr., 27, last known address of South Pine St., York, York County, is charged with one count of possession of Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, one count of delivery of Oxycodone, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver Oxycodone, and one count of criminal conspiracy to possess Oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge.
