A local pharmacist arrested in February for allegedly stealing thousands of narcotics pills while working at Shoppers Drug Mart was formally charged last week.
On April 10, Innisfail RCMP charged Karen Nevett, 34, of Red Deer, with
possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, theft of prescription medication worth over $5,000, and fraud over $5,000 of prescription medication by creating false entries in the store's database.
Nevett, who is not in custody, was scheduled to make her first court appearance on April 10 in Red Deer provincial court.
However, Alberta Justice officials said an agent appeared on her behalf and Nevett's case was put over to May 13 for plea.
Innisfail RCMP Cpl. Jeff Hildebrandt said the charges against Nevett were not delivered to the court until the “last moment.
“We've had it in their (Crown) hands for a decision for some time and we didn't get anything until this last moment. We actually drove up and gave it to them this morning (April 10),” said Hildebrandt, adding that collection of evidence in the case was time consuming. “We have the information sworn and the charges laid, and the Crown was the slow one and not us. We've been sitting on it and waiting for them for quite a while.”
The accused was a full-time staff pharmacist at the local Shoppers Drug Mart. She is also accused of committing the same crimes at a Red Deer outlet where she was a relief employee. Police believe the crimes were committed over an 18-month period.
Innisfail RCMP said the investigation began when company officials came to the detachment following an internal security probe.
RCMP said the crimes allegedly involve the theft of a potent narcotic called Dilaudid. Police added the product losses involve an estimated 14,000 Dilaudid pills, which allegedly involved the tampering and partial removal of capsule contents from stock on the shelf of the pharmacy.
RCMP believe tampered capsules were emptied of between 20 and 50 per cent of their contents before being reassembled and returned to the shelf.
The investigation began following reports from customers that there was noticeable decreased efficiency from their medication, said RCMP.
Police said there is no allegation of theft of store funds as it's believed the accused paid for the narcotics with her own money after creating fraudulent prescriptions.
