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Federal, State Agencies Raid Pharmacies In Jay, Pace, Pensacola
February 3, 2016
State and federal agencies raided three pharmacies in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties Tuesday morning — one in Jay, one in Pace and one in Pensacola.
A spokesperson for the FBI confirmed that the FBI was assisting the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other agencies in a raid at the Jay Pharmacy in the Jay Medical Complex, next to the local hospital. Armed agents could be seen entering and exiting the building into the early afternoon Tuesday.
Agents from the Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the FBI, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement were among those on scene in Jay.
A similar raid was conducted at the office of two Jay doctors that share office space in the complex back in 2011. Neither doctor was directly accused of any crime and were both cleared of any possible wrongdoing. Dr. David Smith told NorthEscambia.com Tuesday morning that he was unaware of what was taking place at Jay Pharmacy. He said that he and his physician son have no ownership interest in the pharmacy.
A second federal and state raid occurred Tueesday morning at the Burklow Pharmacy on Woodbine Road in Pace. Federal and state authorities raided the business shortly after it opened Tuesday morning.
Investigators from the FBI as well as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement moved into Physician Specialty Pharmacy in Pensacola Tuesday morning. They could be seen hauling out boxes from the businesses and loading them into trucks and trailers.
Authorities have not released any further detail on any of the raids.
Pictured: Agents outside the Jay Pharmacy Tuesday. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
28 Responses to “Federal, State Agencies Raid Pharmacies In Jay, Pace, Pensacola”
Feeling concerned. Why don’t they go after the people that’s getting meds that don’t really need them.. There’s people that’s out saling there meds and not taking them and then there’s people out here that really need there dam med and can’t even find a doctor in this rat hole to give it to u. I think doctors need to pee test people there giving meds to…. To make sure that there taking them because it messes people up that really need them!!! Then there’s dumm asses that overdose… U can’t help whats going on..on the streets but u can dam sure take care of what goes on in the doctors office. And if we got insurance the doctor is worker for us were not working for them so stand up for what is right and do a pee test to see if there taking there med right….
It don’t have anything to do with the doctors or the pharmacy’s its the people that over dose and take more meds than they should that’s screwing people up from getting the med they need and that’s why it’s hell finding a Dr around here to help people that needs helps.. I think the doctors need to pee test the ones they give the med to… To make sure that there taking there mes and not saleing it. Because there are people that get med and sale it and then there’s people that can’t find a dam doctor to give them what they need cause of other people ruinnig it. Just saying
@concerned First of all, “there.” Secondly,leo’s aren’t in the business of making it convenient for law breakers or even perceived law breakers. They also have lives. Why prolong their day just to make it more convenient on the suspected criminals? I’d rather my loved one be home at night with his/her family and out of harms way. That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. I don’t know what the business hours are but why not just go in on a day they’re closed. Even better right?
I wonder if you’d feel the same way if they were suspected of (perhaps they are) of ripping off customers or selling drugs illegally or etc…
Just because you think this business is innocent of any wrong doing isn’t going to make it so. Maybe they are. Maybe they aren’t.
Also if you are out of med’s and have to get them that very day or you’ll just die makes it a planning issue for you not for the leo’s. If you need meds you should always have them filled in advance just in case you can’t get to the pharmacy. Flood,fire or search warrant…
@Esc co Leo, u know that some LEO has that one judge they can go to and get any warrant signed anytime!
@shay as I said they don’t have to go in and shut them down all day so ppl can’t get their meds! What’s wrong with going in at closing time? The same “evidence” will be their at anytime!!
Why try to ruin people???
Esc Co Leo on Feb 2;
You do know that a judge must sign every search warrant right? Just saying because you’re comment came off sounding like a search warrant signed by a judge meant the search was all the more justified.
I like everyone else will wait to see what or if this “raid” comes to, but one thing is a fact in America today and that is that the Federal Government is waging war on small independently owned businesses of all types. Maybe this small pharmaceutical chain is in the wrong and maybe not but by the time they’ve spent years and a fortune clearing their name the end results will be the same…they’re no longer in business.
I blame all of this on that ild coot, Reagan. Him & his “War on Drugs” set out to control the health care profession now they have done it.
DOD investigators, they are looking for records pertinent to military personnel?
All this drama, when a single unarmed inspector would have been adequate to review records.
You can bet on one thing, if this old government ever bites the dust, for whatever reason, those boys and girls will be trying hard to forget their roles within that fore- mentioned government.
Cowards in law enforcement, they go after peaceful, smaller business than Violent drug cartels.
I do not trust anything that is “FEDERAL.” And, the FBI recently committed cold blooded murder as far as I can tell. Our National government couldn’t care less about the general population of the USA unless it is how we can benefit themselves. I used to love my country’s government. The criminals running it have changed that love to HATE. I never thought I would hate our own government, but I do. It needs to be totally cleaned out and started over. And, this time the Constitution needs to be honored. Many are angry, but most seem to be brain washed or asleep. It is a very sad state we are now in. They need clean out their OWN house before they can clean out anyone else’s.
This clearly looks like a vendetta. Or maybe just some good ole “Chicago way” governance.
In 2009 CVS was able to get the fed gov to remove eliminate Walgreens from TriCare because of “Billing Practices.” So all the TriCare members had left were the locals and CVS. And then CVS commenced to do the exact same things that got Walgreens was excluded. They were stopped but because of their friends who do things the “Chicago way,” they were not fined and banished like Walgreens. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the reason why. And then in 2011 CVS started moving on the rest of the competition and we aren’t supposed to notice that the bogus claims are doing nothing but ruining the lives of honest people. Anything they come up with now is going to be tainted with the same “Chicago Way” slime that’s oozing from the hands of Lois Lerner and Johnathan Gruber.
Chris in Molino – the Constitution is fine. It’s the “interpretation” that has been mucked up over the years. I’m sure if our Founding Fathers could have seen the future they would have stated very clearly their intentions with with word and punctuation mark
Most likely the reason the Dept. of Defense was involved was due to claims that were filed thru Tri-Care, a military based prescription drug plan.
And apparently this was not a vendetta if there were 3 other pharmacies scattered around 3 different areas, has nothing to do with a Dr.
Probably the common factor of all the facilities, which will come out. Perhaps they all have the same “Mother Company” .
Good point Esc co Leo…. It takes a lot more than just barging in to raid any business or home. The situation is strange, I agree but perhaps we should wait for further facts to emerge before jumping the gun on vendettas and pay-backs.
Parmacies? Really? What about all the drugs on the streets? How does a pharmacy warrant this kind of attention from the DEA? Aren’t they licensed to sell drugs to people? Just wondering….
@Esc Leo
Sure are towing the line. Have a few family members employed by your department. Dad retired as an investigator after 31 yrs so I think I have a little insight. Your entire comment is flawed.
First, the only truth is that the Feds don’t execute search warrants like this for no reason. Exactly, it’s the reason that is in question.
A search warrant is easier to obtain than to execute. It’s become boilerplate. Like the public believing everything on the news, no actual proof is needed. Only an oath of possible wrongdoing from Leo garnered from a confidential informant during the course of an investigation. Easy peasy japanese.
In respect to “last time”, not only were no charges brought, Leo agencies admit NO EVIDENCE of wrongdoing was found. Theres the real crime, ruining the lives of good people and further faith in Leo to try to curb a prescription drug problem. The desired effects of the raid on physicians was accomplished however, Leo agencies sent a message to intimidate physicians from prescribing pain medicine.
Last, please, leave the constitution alone. They should just go ahead and write a new one already. It’s been diluted and perverted little by little until it now no longer even resembles what it was intended to be. So I won’t quote it as you suggest. But, easy to follow the rules in “doing the right thing” by getting a search warrant when the rules have been interpreted in such a way so as to make it easier for Leo to do so.
I don’t know what you guys would do without DNA or video cameras. May actually do police work. Big supporter of crime and punishment and agree cops are waaaaaaaaaay underpaid, but stop drinkin the cool-aid.
Dear Mr. Esc co leo. Suppose there is something contained in the warrant that establishes probable cause. At what point in our nations history did we begin serving warrants with small armed forces against ordinary citizens and business owners? The first line of your blog is flawed. After some years and no telling how many tax dollars spent on attempted prosecution in Dr Smiths case, the end result was nothing. N..o..t..h..I..n..g. So judging from past action, one would have to conclude they do issue federal search warrants for no reason.
@concerned
Where does it state in the article that the DEA were involved? It states the DOD,FBI and FDLE.
Let me get this straight. You want the agency with a complaint and warrant in hand to call and set up an appointment first rather than just going in during the day? You mean call first so if the place they are raiding has guilty individuals in it they can destroy the evidence before they get there? That isn’t the way it works. I wish it was because every agency could just call the drug dealer and tell them they have a warrant and would like to set up a time of their convenience to come look in their house for drugs. That way our leo’s aren’t put in harms way doing their jobs.
You may find the theory of a vendetta absurd….but stranger things have happened. I’m sure we all have opinions as to why Jay has been targeted again….
so here is mine…someone with power did this with spite and malice because they could and that kind of person usually has power that can bring as much trouble down on anyone they wish to..because they are certain no one would ever question their decision to do so…or the birth of the vendetta was made real when a door was opened by someone that was angry with the medical community and took what appeared to be evidence and all their rantings to this higher up..possibly
a patient upset when they feel they were not treated right by the medical community….. I believe your person with the information is still walking around Jay and watching as things unfold .It appears that both Doctor Smiths and the Jay facilities are honest…but someone must not like to loose..so we didn’t get the doctors lets try for another door…if this sounds like a bad James Bond movie…just call me 007…
The Feds don’t execute search warrants like this for no reason. If they obtained a federal search warrant, signed by a judge, then there was probable cause to believe that evidence of a crime was there.
The fact that no charges were filed last time doesn’t mean those guys were innocent… Just that they couldn’t prove a case against them.
I could see your complaint if the agents went in there with no warrant, but they did have a warrant, which, for all of you that are always quoting the constitution and talking about people’s rights, is exactly what they were suppose to do.
Let’s see the outcome before we start claiming vendetta and harassment.
Department of Defense! You’ve got to be kidding!
I seem to recall Buklow’s being hit by LEO’s about 3 years ago.
Ask the Gibson Guitar Company about raids, they can tell ya a little sumthinsumthin about the motivation behind it all.
“paying attention” – you are clearly NOT paying attention as you apparently did not even read the article. This raid has absolutely nothing to do with Dr. Smith or his practice. The Jay Pharmacy has absolutely no affiliation with Dr. Smith or his son other than the fact that they are directly next to one another in the same brick building…that is where the similarities stop.
From the way it looks you have no clue about the community of Jay! So… You do know this that Doctor doesn’t own that pharmacy.. Just saying!! & I am not sure why you would say anything about Dr Smith being if you can read correctly it says clearly him and his son is clear of ANY doing!! Read slower next time you might see some small details!
This has nothing to do with Dr. Smith or his practice…
It is a shame that more time is spent on investigating the good citizens of our county when the real culprit is making false accusations. Doctors who should be recommended and thanked for all the good they do for others expecting little in return who even make sacrifices to meet the medical needs of many.
I think it’s wrong for the DEA to do things like this!
Why can’t they just go in with a warrant and get what the warrant states? Like at closing time or the middle of the night like when they kick in people’s doors on a raid.
Not show up in force close the doors and make them look like criminals!
Like they did with Dr. Smith and others causing them to loose who knows how much money and patients, and find no wrong doings!!!
Who does the DEA answer to? No one?
When they find no wrong doings they don’t give them what they’ve lost! How it this right?
I do not do business at any pharmacy in Jay nor do I see any doctors in Jay, but I do read the newspaper and watch the news. I’m not sure who Dr. Smith has upset, but after the raid on his business and the months of investigations into his and his sons practice, with the outcome being only in his loss of patients, it sure smells like a vendetta to me.