United States Drug Enforcement Administration

( - BOSTON - Three individuals were charged today in U.S. District Court in Boston with distributing oxycodone via false prescriptions.

Michael J. Ferguson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz  announced that Leslie Credle, a/k/a Chanel, 48, of Jamaica Plain; William Ford, a/k/a Billy, 33, of Winthrop; and Lisette Carrasquillo, a/k/a Jacqueline, 37, of Allston were indicted on conspiracy to possess oxycodone with intent to distribute and conspiracy to obtain possession of oxycodone by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge.  On June 30, 2014, the defendants were originally charged by criminal complaint at which time Credle and Ford were arrested and have since been held in custody.  Carrasquillo was arrested on July 1, 2014 and was released on bond and pre-trial conditions. 

According to court documents, beginning in November 2013, DEA investigators detected the diversion of a large amount of Oxycodone pills through fraudulent prescriptions filled at various pharmacies in eastern Massachusetts.  Through the investigation, law enforcement discovered that Credle forged multiple prescriptions, after which Ford, Carrasquillo, and others passed the created prescriptions for Oxycodone at Boston-area pharmacies. 

For Credle, the charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 30 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine $2 million.  For Ford and Carrasquillo, the charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case was investigated by the DEA, Massachusetts State Police, Billerica Police Department, Boston Police Department, Dedham Police Department, Quincy Police Department, and Waltham Police Department; and in coordination with the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Michael I. Yoon of Ortiz’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.