8 arrested in prescription ring

Associated Press - November 9, 2009 6:44 AM ET

HAZLEHURST, Miss. (AP) - Eight people have been arrested in Copiah County in what authorities are calling a prescription forgery ring.

Authorities say the alleged ring leader , 40-year-old Patrina Williams Thrasher, of Hazlehurst, is accused of using her position in a doctor's office to illegally call in prescriptions for the other suspects.

She is charged with multiple counts of prescription forgery and conspiracy to possess controlled substances.

Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics investigator Gail Mills tells The Clarion Ledger that the problem came to light when Wal-Mart pharmacy in Hazlehurst called authorities after Thrasher allegedly called in a large number of prescriptions.

Information from: The Clarion-Ledger, http://www.clarionledger.com