Crime & Safety
Man Sentenced For Stealing Dr.’s ID, Issuing Prescriptions: U.S. DOJ
A Brooksville man stole a doctor's identification to sell and issue fraudulent prescriptions for controlled substances, the U.S. DOJ said.
BROOKSVILLE, FL — A Brooksville man was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.
Colton Neal, 26, pleaded guilty to the charges on Dec. 16.
From June 2022 through July 2023, Neal used an electronic health record and digital telehealth platform to issue electronic prescriptions through interstate wires, the DOJ said.
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He used a doctor’s name and National Provider Identifier, which he obtained without permission or consent, and posted advertisements for fraudulent controlled substance prescriptions on a darknet forum. Neal collected payments for the prescriptions via cryptocurrency and other methods.
He issued about 144 prescriptions for various controlled substances to people across the U.S.
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