Alleged prescription drug scam ends with felony charges

Published 11:25 am Monday, April 30, 2012

Two Austin men who allegedly tried to get prescription drugs by using a fake doctor’s prescription were charged Friday in Mower County Court.

Juan Irlas, 39, was charged with one count of fifth-degree attempt to procure drugs, a felony. Anthony Ledoux, 29, faces one felony count of fifth-degree attempt to procure drugs, one count of gross misdemeanor controlled substance DWI and driving after revocation.

Police arrested Irlas and Ledoux after Irlas allegedly provided pharmacists at the Austin Walgreens with a fake prescription for Hydrocodone, a pain killer. According to the court complaint, the pharmacist became suspicious when Irlas tried to provide 12 refills of the prescription, since the maximum is five. Furthermore, Hydro-codone requires a DEA approval, but there wasn’t one. The pharmacist called police, who recognized Irlas. Police called the doctor on the prescription who said Irlas had attempted to do the same thing in Albert Lea earlier that day, according to the complaint.

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Police went to Walgreens when Ledoux came to pick up the prescription. According to the complaint, they blocked his vehicle while at the pickup window and arrested him. An officer noticed Ledoux spoke rapidly, was very shaky and seemed nervous. Ledoux said he was picking the prescription up for his cousin. In the squad car, he also told officers “I’m not a druggie.” The complaint also states when Ledoux asked to have his vehicle parked and windows rolled up, he hastily refused to have officers retrieve his cell phone and said to leave it in the vehicle. The complaint then states an officer saw an incoming message from a person about the prescription drugs, as well.

Police later arrested Irlas, who said he did not send Ledoux to pick up the prescription and that Ledoux did so on his own, the complaint states. At the law enforcement center, Ledoux admitted to officers that he takes 20 mg of Oxycontin every eight hours, 5 mg of Oxycodone every six hours and 10 mg of Adderall once or twice daily, according to the complaint. It also says that Irlas admitted to getting Amlodipine and Buproprion but realized he needed a prescription for the Hydrocodone. He also admitted to being in Albert Lea earlier in the day.

Both Irlas and Ledoux are held in the Mower County jail on $25,000.