7,000 Pills Vanished in Pharmacy Theft

A Northeast Florida pharmacist has been charged with the theft of 7,000 prescription painkiller pills from a Rite Aid drug store that are still missing.

A Northeast Florida pharmacist has been charged with the theft of 7,000 prescription painkiller pills from a Rite Aid drug store that are still missing.

John Pearson, of Fleming Island, Florida, is accused of the felony crime of theft by taking, unlawful distribution of controlled substances and possession of hydrocodone, which is a Scheduled III controlled narcotic, according to Blackshear police Lt. Chris Wright, reported the Florida Times-Union on January 9, 2011.

Rite Aid managers uncovered inconsistencies during winter inventory and notified police.

Pearson is charged with allegedly stealing 110 bottles of hydrocodone over two years of employment, beginning in October 2009.

Police have not recovered any of the stolen pills, and cannot say if the pills were sold or consumed.