Crimes Nearby: Pharmacist Charged in Black-Market Prescription Case

The following crime reports were issued by state and county authorities. Criminal charges are accusations; they do not indicate guilt.

Melville

A Melville pharmacist has been arrested for his alleged role as a ringleader in a massive scheme to distribute black market prescription HIV drugs and defraud the Medicaid program of $155 million, law enforcement officials said.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced this week that an investigation shut down the illegal operation that was distributing HIV prescription drugs obtained on the black market through MOMS pharmacy, a high-volume pharmacy located in Melville.

According to the indictment and forfeiture complaint, beginning in September 2008, Glenn Schabel, of Melville, the supervising pharmacist and compliance officer for MOMS pharmacy, allegedly accepted bribes to purchase in excess of $274 million worth of black market HIV medications from a web of shell companies, controlled by Stephen Manuel Costa, a 27-year-old Florida resident.

Anthony D. Luna, President of MOMs Pharmacy, issued a statement on the accusation:

“MOMS Pharmacy was a victim of this crime and will continue to cooperate fully with the New York State authorities to see that those involved are brought to justice. The health and safety of our patients is our first priority, and we are doing all we can to make sure nothing like this happens again."

East Meadow

On March 27 at 7 p.m., Helen A. Lonnie-Kohut, a Wantagh resident, was arrested for allegedly stealing $98 worth of items from on Front Street in East Meadow.

Huntington

Police are searching for a suspect who used stolen credit cards to make purchases at the Walt Whitman Shops in February.

A woman reported to police that her purse, with credit cards inside, was stolen Feb. 20 in Huntington. Police say, an unknown woman was caught on surveillance video making unauthorized purchases in Bloomingdale’s and Macy's department stores with the stolen credit cards. 

Glen Cove

The driver of a vehicle that crashed after fleeing police on April 3 has been arrested, according to the Glen Cove Police Department.

Ira Hall, 24, of Locust Valley was arrested Sunday and charged with reckless endangerment, unlawful fleeing, reckless driving, speeding and unlicensed operation for the incident, which occurred around 2:30 a.m. on April 3 when a Glen Cove police officer pursued a vehicle traveling at around 80 miles per hour in a 30-mile-per-hour zone on Glen Cove Avenue.

The fleeing vehicle crashed into a wooded area near Weirs Lane in Locust Valley, injuring two passengers who were treated and released. The suspect escaped on foot. Police said at the time they knew his identity and were actively looking for him.

Hall was also charged with criminal mischief for allegedly smashing the front window of Kornerstone Publik House in a separate incident, which he was being sought in connection with when the chase occurred.