A Hernando County drug bust has led to the arrest of a pharmacy owner from Lutz for violating Florida oxycodone laws according to the St. Petersburg Times. The pharmacy owner was one of three people arrested for allegedly filling fake drug prescriptions out of the Glory Pharmacy in Spring Hill.
The investigation into the Glory Pharmacy was described as months-long and it resulted in the arrest of the owner of the pharmacy, the pharmacist and one other employee. The investigation was conducted by the Florida Department of Health, the D.E.A. and the Hernando County Sheriff’s department. All three were booked into Hernando County jail on charges ranging from trafficking in Oxycodone to conspiracy to illegally dispensing a controlled substance.

The drug bust was the result of an undercover sting involving detectives calling the pharmacy and asking to buy 180 oxycodone tablets, which the agent referred to as “blues”. A pharmacy employee allegedly told the undercover agent that the oxycodone would be available at the Spring Hill pharmacy. The agent brought a fake prescription with no DEA number and left with oxycodone. He also allegedly left with an offer for better prices on the drug if he brought in more customers. According to detectives, the agents bought a total of 179 pills of oxycodone from the pharmacy paying $720 in cash.
The pharmacy owner and one employee were both being held on $500,000 bail, while the pharmacist was being held on $1,000 bond. Sheriffs told TampaBay.com that they do not believe that filling illegal prescriptions is a common practice at Florida pharmacies. That statement was issued despite the fact that there has been a huge increase in illegal prescription drug activity in Florida. There have been new laws passed in cities across the state barring further pain management clinics being opened and existing pain clinics have been raided all over Tampa Bay.