Posted on 12/23/2020 9:31:54 AM PST by ransomnote
In a civil complaint filed today, the Department of Justice has alleged that Walmart Inc. unlawfully dispensed controlled substances from pharmacies it operated across the country and unlawfully distributed controlled substances to those pharmacies throughout the height of the prescription opioid crisis.
The complaint alleges that this unlawful conduct resulted in hundreds of thousands of violations of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The Justice Department seeks civil penalties, which could total in the billions of dollars, and injunctive relief.
“It has been a priority of this administration to hold accountable those responsible for the prescription opioid crisis. As one of the largest pharmacy chains and wholesale drug distributors in the country, Walmart had the responsibility and the means to help prevent the diversion of prescription opioids,” said Jeffrey Bossert Clark, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Division. “Instead, for years, it did the opposite — filling thousands of invalid prescriptions at its pharmacies and failing to report suspicious orders of opioids and other drugs placed by those pharmacies. This unlawful conduct contributed to the epidemic of opioid abuse throughout the United States. Today’s filing represents an important step in the effort to hold Walmart accountable for such conduct.”
“We entrust distributors and dispensers with the responsibility to ensure controlled substances do not fall into the wrong hands,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Administrator Timothy Shea. “When processes to safeguard against drug diversion are violated or ignored, or when pharmacies routinely fill illegitimate prescriptions, we will hold accountable anyone responsible, including Walmart. Too many lives have been lost because of oversight failures and those entrusted with responsibility turning a blind eye.”
The result of a multi-year investigation by the department’s Prescription Interdiction & Litigation (PIL) Task Force, the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware alleges that Walmart violated the CSA in multiple ways as the operator of its pharmacies and wholesale drug distribution centers. The complaint alleges that, as the operator of its pharmacies, Walmart knowingly filled thousands of controlled substance prescriptions that were not issued for legitimate medical purposes or in the usual course of medical practice, and that it filled prescriptions outside the ordinary course of pharmacy practice. The complaint also alleges that, as the operator of its distribution centers, which ceased distributing controlled substances in 2018, Walmart received hundreds of thousands of suspicious orders that it failed to report as required to by the DEA. Together, the complaint alleges, these actions helped to fuel the prescription opioid crisis.
If Walmart is found liable for violating the CSA, it could face civil penalties of up to $67,627 for each unlawful prescription filled and $15,691 for each suspicious order not reported. The court also may award injunctive relief to prevent Walmart from committing further CSA violations.
“For years, Walmart failed to meet its obligations in distributing and dispensing dangerous opioids and other drugs,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Daniel J. Feith of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch. “We look forward to advancing this case with our DOJ partners.”
“The opioid crisis has exacted a catastrophic human toll upon the residents of our district and upon our country,” said U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Maria Chapa Lopez. “National pharmacy chains must meet their legal obligations when dispensing and distributing these powerful medications. The filing of this complaint in collaboration with the Department of Justice and other United States Attorneys’ Offices demonstrates our firm commitment to enforcing these critical legal requirements.”
“As a pharmacy that fills prescriptions for controlled substances, Walmart has an obligation to fill only those prescriptions that are legitimate,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Seth D. DuCharme. “As a wholesale drug distributor, Walmart also had an obligation to notify DEA of suspicious orders of controlled substances. Walmart failed to comply with both of its obligations, and thereby failed in its responsibility to prevent the diversion of controlled substances.”
“Today’s complaint is the culmination of a painstaking investigation by my office and our Department of Justice colleagues that uncovered years of unlawful conduct that did untold damage to communities around the country, including here in Colorado,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado Jason R. Dunn. “We look forward to pursuing justice and holding the company accountable for its conduct.”
“Opioid addiction and abuse have devastated communities across our nation, and eastern North Carolina is no exception,” said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Robert Higdon Jr. “Walmart’s failures only made these problems worse. For example, our office prosecuted a physician for illegal opioid distribution. A jury convicted him just last year, and he is currently serving a twenty-year prison sentence. As it turns out, that physician expressly directed patients to Walmart to have their opioid prescriptions filled. Walmart’s own pharmacists reported concerns about the doctor up the corporate chain, but for years, Walmart did nothing—except continue to dispense thousands of opioid pills. My office will continue to work with others in the Department to ensure that Walmart — and all others who had a role to play in this ongoing opioid crisis — are held responsible.”
“The misuse of prescription painkillers is a public health crisis,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware David C. Weiss. “DEA registrants must understand that licensure is a privilege, not a right. Whenever that privilege is abused, whether by the smallest local provider or the largest national chain, our office and the Department of Justice will take all necessary steps to enforce the law and keep the public safe.”
The claims made in the complaint are allegations that United States must prove if the case proceeds to trial.
The United States is represented in the filed action by attorneys from the Department of Justice Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and from the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Colorado, District of Delaware, Eastern District of North Carolina, Eastern District of New York, and Middle District of Florida. The DEA’s Dallas Field Division and Diversion Control Operations personnel investigated the case. The DEA’s Office of Chief Counsel and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section provided substantial support.
Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For information about the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, visit: District of Colorado, https://www.justice.gov/usao-co; District of Delaware https://www.justice.gov/usao-de; Eastern District of North Carolina https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc; Eastern District of New York https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny; Middle District of Florida https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl. Information about the DEA is available at www.dea.gov.
Amazon does not want ANY competition. This will drain profits from WalMart, besmirch WalMart’s reputation, and be a nice kickback to Jeff Bezos for his campaign contributions.
It is some”thing” that the COVID bill is sending money to . . .
IIRC, scrips for controlled substances have to be transmitted a specific way.
If so, bet Wally has been filling scrips that aren’t totally done by the book.
If so, book ‘em, Dan-o.
Not only that but insurance companies also monitor prescription drug usages of their subscribers and will not approve certain drugs without authorization from doctors......
Follow the money.
It’s on the doctor if there is wrongdoing.
Follow the money.
“The Justice Department seeks civil penalties, which could total in the billions of dollars, and injunctive relief.”
The politicians are going to have field day kicking that money back to themselves. Meanwhile the prices at wal-mart will skyrocket and jobs will be lost.
But they’re not going after street drugs; they’re going after legitimately prescribed medications!
So very important to cause this major retailer and supplier of all the things we need and use to suffer higher expenses for such a stupid charge.
This is what is important to Barr? What a fool.
Thanks.
This explains why the DOJ was too busy to investigate election fraud.
It is the communist deep-state at work here trying to stifle the news about voter fraud and the Biden corruption...
What did Cassius Clay say about a “rope-a-dope”?
Covid Tranny Relief for P0ck-ee-stan.
$700,000,000
Seven Hundred Big “M” for MILLION.
$600.00 for ifinnigan.
As a 30 year user of pain meds it pains me even more to ask this-since when has that stopped them before?
“And if the government wins, where does all of that money go?”
Oh, I’m CERTAIN there’s already a fund of some sort set up to assist families such as mine, torn apart by the opioid crisis. (My Ex’s problem, not mine.)
*SMIRK*
More likely? Routed through China, then back into the hands of their best buddies, the Socialist Democrats of the USA!
Even more dangerously, they are supplying prescribed drugs also.
https://www.solcohealthcare.com/ ...a fully owned subsidiary of Prinston Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical, leaders in drug development and manufacturing of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) and finished dosage products. Together we strive to offer greater access to affordable medications that you can trust.
Look for Solco Healthcare on your prescription labels to see if you're walking through an UNknown minefield.
But they’re not going after street drugs; they’re going after legitimately prescribed medications!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Massive prosecutions against doctors, medical clinics and pharmacies on DOJ. It’s white collar crime. So much medical fraud prosecution on DOJ and right in there with it is massive institutionalized opioid distribution with doctors/clinics admitting they were prescribing massive amounts of opioids beyond legitimate need. WHite collar drug dealers - the CIA got there first, I guess.
It’s crazy, isn’t it?
It’s not even really for what they say it is for.
Slush funds, graft, out of oversight.
[[people getting strong pain pills for what I view as Minor Pain that a few drinks after work would fix.]]
Yep- too many folks used to get put on it- not so much anymore though- one really has to jump through hoops to get it now, which is a good thing really-
[[By the time I take a pain pill now, most people would be in the emergency room dying in agony.]]
Lol- i hear ya- folks don’t have a clue what real pain is=- I suggest they pass a kidney stone to find out lol
Walgreens does question and will refuse service without telling you they wont service you. They will take your prescription with no intention of filling it. Learned it the hard way. Had to go back and retrieve my legal prescription/property. I hate Walgreens.
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