Crime & Safety

Johnston Man Charged with Using Forged Rx

Police arrested Joseph Gruttadauria, 39, after employees of the CVS Pharmacy on 1400 Atwood Ave. reported that he used forged prescriptions to get Oxycodone.

A Johnston resident faces multiple charges after police say he tried to obtain Oxycodone with forged prescriptions on June 10 and 11.

charged Joseph A. Gruttadauria, 39, of 32 Verdic Ave., with one felony count each of false representation to obtain a controlled substance and controlled substance conspiracy.

The CVS pharmacist at called police headquarters on June 11 to report a fraudulent prescription. The pharmacist told Ptlm. Matthew Winsor that a woman, who appeared to be about 26 years old, dropped off a prescription at the drive-thru window for a hundred 20-mg Oxycodone pills on Sunday around 3:20 p.m., and stated she would be back in 15 minutes to pick up the prescription.

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Winsor reported that the pharmacist stated she was “skeptical” about the prescription, but was unable to contact the doctor’s office to determine if it was valid.

The pharmacist also said she called the phone number provided by the woman who dropped off the prescription and explained that the person picking up the prescription would need to show a valid photo ID, according to Winsor’s report.

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Winsor wrote that the pharmacist said Gruttadauria arrived at the pharmacy at 3:39 p.m. to pick up the prescription. The pharmacy clerk copied his driver’s license, and Gruttadauria signed the prescription log and used a debit card to pay the $2.60 charge.

On June 11, the pharmacist contacted the doctor listed on the prescription, and learned the address on the prescription was wrong, Winsor reported. In addition, the pharmacist said she learned that the doctor’s signature was apparently forged; the woman listed on the prescription was not a patient of his; and the DEA and license numbers listed on the prescription were incorrect.

A store manager provided local officers with a DVD of the surveillance footage showing the transactions.

At 9 p.m. on June 11, police received a second call from an employee of the same pharmacy stating that Gruttadauria was attempting to fill a second prescription for Oxycodone with his name as the patient.

The pharmacist told Ptlm. Derek Parascandolo that she received a prescription written for Gruttadauria prescribing 30 mg of Oxycodone, similar to the apparently forged prescription from the day before.

Parascandolo wrote that the pharmacist said she recognized Gruttadauria when she saw him waiting for the prescription.

Officers arrested Gruttadauria at the pharmacy without incident. He was arraigned at police headquarters and released on $5,000 personal recognizance until a court hearing to be scheduled.


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