Pharmacist Accused of Stealing Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Amphetamine Salts

A Safeway pharmacist has been indicted on 14 felony counts and is accused of stealing at least 3000 doses of oxycodone, hydrocodone, and amphetamine salts.

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich made the announcement on May 10, 2016, regarding Bailey Marie McComb, who worked at a Safeway pharmacy in Show Low, Arizona.

McComb faces charges of fraudulent schemes and artifices, computer tampering, obtaining dangerous drugs by fraud, obtaining narcotic drugs by fraud, aggravated taking identity of another, possession of a narcotic drug, possession of a dangerous drug, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The Safeway pharmacy grew concerned with inventory losses of dangerous drugs in March 2015, according to the attorney general’s press release. The company found pharmacy patient profiles for some of the drugs, but no corresponding hard copies of the prescriptions were found in the store.

McComb was seen creating fake patient profiles and dispensing medications after hours through surveillance footage.

While the attorney general’s press release noted that McComb was accused of stealing more than 3000 doses of drugs, the woman apparently admitted to stealing more than 10,000 doses of oxycodone, more than 500 doses of hydrocodone, and more than 500 doses of amphetamine salts, which were all worth around $15,000 in total, according to a consent agreement dated May 27, 2015.

In May 2015, McComb’s pharmacy license was suspended for 6 months, according to the consent agreement with the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy. After those 6 months, her probation lasting at least 6 years and 4 months began.

The board also ordered her to complete 400 hours of community service in a 5-year period.

A Safeway pharmacy intern named Brian Timothy Ellis Witmer was also charged with 5 drug-related offenses.