Local

Apopka pharmacist accused of filling fake prescriptions for kickbacks

APOPKA, Fla. — An Apopka pharmacist was arrested on drug trafficking charges during a raid Tuesday, authorities said.

Agents with the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation raided Apopka Discount Drugs on Main Street Tuesday morning.

WFTV was there when agents were inside boxing up potential evidence and getting ready to haul it away.

Investigators walked one of the owners of the business, Satish Patel, out in handcuffs.

The director of the MBI said the pharmacy filled more than 100 fake prescriptions.

Authorities said the raid was a part of an ongoing investigation into a large-scale drug trafficking operation.

Investigators said Neil Callegari and Ashley Dye were the ring leaders. Agents said the couple would write counterfeit prescriptions using the names of real doctors for powerful pain pills and recruit people to have them filled at pharmacies like Apopka Discount Drugs.

However, investigators said the pharmacists would fill the prescription anyway and raise the prices so they could make more money.

"We have identified at least 145 fraudulent prescriptions have been filled here," said MBI Director Larry Zwieg.

Patel's bond was set at $25 million. He also must have a court hearing to prove his bond money is not from illegal activity.

The raid the third in the past year, authorities said.