United States Drug Enforcement Administration

MAR 23 - NEW HAVEN, Conn - Robert Williams, also known as “Bo,” “Positive” and “Shawn,” 37, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford, Connecticut to 42 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a scheme to distribute oxycodone that was obtained through fraudulent prescriptions.  Michael J. Ferguson Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced the sentencing.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2012, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization that manufactured fraudulent prescriptions for oxycodone and distributed the drug in the greater New Haven area.  As part of the conspiracy, members of organization obtained the personal identifying information of medical practitioners and used the information to create fraudulent prescriptions.  Conspiracy members also purchased legitimate prescriptions for oxycodone from individuals.  The organization then used individuals, or “runners,” to fill the fraudulent prescriptions at pharmacies throughout Connecticut.  Once a runner provided his or her personal information to a member of the organization, the runner’s information was kept on file and used to create other fraudulent prescriptions.

Williams filled fake prescriptions himself, and also recruited and transported others to fill fake prescriptions for him.  He then sold most of the pills he acquired in bulk quantities to others.

The investigation revealed that, between February 2013 and September 2015, the organization stole the personal identifying information of more than 50 doctors and medical professionals and fraudulently obtained more than 80,000 oxycodone pills.  Investigators identified more than 800 fraudulent prescriptions passed by members of the organization using more than 270 different “patient” names.

Nearly all of the runners employed by the conspiracy held state-sponsored medical insurance, so the costs of the prescriptions were billed to Medicaid.  Members of the drug trafficking organization then sold the oxycodone for $20 to $30 per 30 milligram pill.  Eleven individuals were charged as a result of the investigation.

Williams was arrested on September 10, 2015, and was in custody until February 9, 2016, when he was released on bond into a drug treatment program.  He has been detained since May 18, 2016, after his bond was revoked.  On September 19, 2016, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone.

The DEA Tactical Diversion Squad includes members from the Bristol, Greenwich, Hamden, Milford, New Haven, Shelton, Vernon and Wilton Police Departments.