PITTSBURGH — Two physician assistants are among four people charged by the state Attorney General’s Office in a scheme to acquire thousands of oxycodone pills.
According to Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE, Dena Lazar, 26, of Overbrook, and Jill Harlan, 32, of Springdale Township, are accused of using their positions as physician assistants to write unauthorized prescriptions.
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Lazar’s mother, 50-year-old Jodi Cantor, of Bridgeville, and Brandon Bodnar, of Scott Township, are also facing charges.
The group acquired a total of 2,890 oxycodone pills, 240 hydrocodone pills and 330 pills of the anti-anxiety drug lorazepam, according to the criminal complaint obtained by TribLIVE.
Lazar and Harlan, who worked at several MedExpress locations, face charges of illegal acquisition of a controlled substance by a practitioner and identity theft among other charges. Cantor and Bodnar were charged with illegal acquisition of a controlled substance, conspiracy and criminal attempt.
MedExpress released the following statement Tuesday to Channel 11 News:
"Neither of the individuals mentioned have seen any patients at a MedExpress center since well before we first learned of this investigation or the allegations.
"Please know that quality patient care is paramount at MedExpress."
Lazar, Harlan and Cantor were arrested last week. Investigators have not yet located Bodnar.
WPXI
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