Ashley Monte Tindley
Charles R. Brown
James Alexander Bloodworth
Jordan Bernardo Cornelius
Reshunda Naequn Singleton
Sheriff Eric Watson and 10th Judicial District Drug Task Force Director Bill Cherry on Tuesday announced the continuing work of narcotics detectives led to the arrests of five Atlanta-area men and a woman in separate prescription fraud investigations.
On Saturday, agents from both organizations responded to a Cleveland pharmacy after a forged prescription for Promethazine with Codeine was verified by the pharmacist. When agents attempted to apprehend the suspects, they fled in a vehicle, refusing to stop even after the emergency lights and sirens on the agent’s vehicles were activated.
James Alexander Bloodworth, 22, of Decatur, Ga.
and Jordan Bernardo Cornelius, 22, of Atlanta, were placed in custody after agents positioned their vehicles to block their flight. Additional investigation revealed Bloodworth entered the pharmacy to present the forged prescription and left, telling personnel he would return later. Cornelius arrived later, attempting to pick up the prescription.
Both suspects are charged with prescription fraud and conspiracy to commit prescription fraud. Bloodworth, who was identified as the driver of the vehicle, is additionally charged with felony evading and aggravated assault. Agents say he has drug charges pending in Spartanburg, S.C.
Mr. Cherry said the arrests are indicative of the increasing number of prescription fraud cases that are being perpetrated by groups traveling to Bradley County from metro Atlanta and other areas.
In an earlier investigation, agents arrested a man and two women when they tried to pick up a fraudulent prescription for the same medication, a Schedule 5 controlled narcotic prescribed by doctors as a pain reliever and cough suppressant.
Inside the pharmacy, agents made contact with Ashley Monte Tindley, 28, of Decatur, Ga., who was attempting to pick up the forged prescription.
A vehicle stop was conducted a short distance from the pharmacy leading to the arrests of two Atlanta residents, Charles R. Brown, 32, and Reshunda Naequn Singleton, 28. All three are charged with conspiracy to commit prescription fraud and two counts of prescription fraud.
Mr. Cherry said, “We appreciate the high level of cooperation that exists with Sheriff Watson and the Drug Enforcement Unit. We are committed to working together to curtail these types of crimes.”
Sheriff Watson said he is equally proud of the cooperation that exists between the two agencies. “Together we can have a positive impact combating Bradley County’s drug problem.”