TRENTON - Division of Criminal Justice
Director Vaughn L. McKoy announced that
an Ocean County woman has pleaded guilty
to using stolen prescription blanks to
illegally obtain controlled dangerous
substances.
According to Director McKoy and Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden-Brown, Julianne
O’Brien, 42, Marine Road, Waretown,
Ocean County, pleaded guilty before Ocean
County Superior Court Judge Edward J.
Turnbach to a criminal Accusation filed
by the Division of Criminal Justice -
Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor.
The Accusation charged O’Brien with
obtaining a controlled dangerous substances
by fraud (3rd degree). When sentenced
on April 1, O’Brien faces up to
five years in state prison, and a criminal
fine of up to $15,000.
At the Feb. 14 guilty plea hearing, O’Brien
admitted that in March, 2002, while working
for a dentist, she stole a pad of prescription
drug blank forms and used the pad to write
prescriptions for Vicoprofen, which is
considered to be a controlled dangerous
substance. An investigation by the Division
of Criminal Justice - Office of Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor determined that O’Brien
had the prescriptions filled at The Medicap
Pharmacy, located in Barnegat, Ocean County.
In addition, the Accusation charged that
O’Brien’s health insurance
company, Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield
paid her more than $360 for the drugs
she fraudulently obtained.
State Investigator Weldon Powell and Deputy
Attorney General Peter W. Lee were assigned
to the investigation. DAG Lee represented
the Division
of Criminal Justice - Office
of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor at the
guilty plea hearing.