ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Twelve individuals allegedly involved in prescription fraud and drug trafficking in Northern Virginia were charged in federal court following a eight-month investigation by federal and local law enforcement intent on disrupting a prescription fraud and drug distribution network throughout Northern Virginia, including Fairfax and Prince William Counties. 

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement.

            In four criminal complaints unsealed today, the 12 individuals allegedly include street level dealers and their suppliers accused of obtaining Oxycodone by prescription fraud and distributing fraudulently obtained Oxycodone pills.  This investigation, dubbed “The Usual Suspects,” is part of a long-term, ongoing investigation called Operation “Cotton Candy,” and is being conducted by the Northern Virginia Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Those charged allegedly represent various Oxycodone distribution rings that all share one goal: to obtain Oxycodone by presenting fraudulent prescriptions to pharmacies throughout Northern Virginia and West Virginia.  According to court documents, the distribution rings utilize similar computer templates to copy and forge prescriptions for Oxycodone, often times producing the fake prescriptions at local FedEx/Kinko’s locations.  Numerous physicians have allegedly had their provider information used in an attempt to illegally obtain Oxycodone pills.  Additionally, innocent individuals have allegedly had their names used on fake prescriptions and their driver’s licenses stolen and presented at pharmacies for identification to fill the forged prescriptions.  Court documents assert that rhroughout the course of the conspiracy, hundreds of fraudulent prescriptions have been filled at pharmacies throughout the Northern Virginia region. 

According to court documents, conspirators would obtain Oxycodone pills at pharmacies and redistribute them in smaller quantities for a large profit margin.  They would primarily conduct drug transactions in their homes throughout Prince William County. 

Those federally charged taken into custody earlier this week include the following:

• John Michael Wolfrey, 26, of Bristow, Va., is alleged to have participated in the initiation of a prescription fraud and Oxycodone distribution ring that involves members of the Wolfrey family, including his two brothers, Justin Ryan Wolfrey and Joseph Andrew Wolfrey, a girlfriend, Heather Renee Mullins, and his cousin, Roy Lee Johnson.  Court documents allege that he filled numerous fraudulent prescriptions throughout the Northern Virginia area and sold Oxycodone pills from his home.  He is charged with conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone.

• Justin Ryan Wolfrey, 23, of Bristow, Va., is charged with conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone.  It is alleged that after his brother John Michael Wolfrey was arrested, Justin Ryan Wolfrey took over passing false prescriptions and became a driving force behind the prescription fraud ring.  He is alleged to have used a stolen driver’s licenses to fill false prescriptions in pharmacies in Manassas and Woodbridge and to have sold Oxycodone pills in Manassas and Prince William County.  Court documents also allege that, after being confronted by agents while attempting to fill a false prescription, he ran back to his vehicle and fled a Costco parking lot at a high rate of speed.  Pursuing agents elected to break off pursuit because Wolfrey was driving too aggressively.

• Joseph Andrew Wolfrey, 23, of Bristow, Va., is charged with conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone.  Along with his brother John Michael Wolfrey, he is alleged to have participated in the manufacture of false prescriptions.  Joseph Andrew Wolfrey is also alleged to have filled false prescriptions for Roxicodone around Northern Virginia. 

• Roy Lee Johnson, 26, of Manassas, Va., a Wolfrey family relative, is alleged to have participated with the Wolfreys in prescription fraud and illegal drug distribution.  He is charged with conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone.

• Heather Renee Mullins, 26, of Manassas, Va., is alleged to have aided the Wolfreys by filling false prescriptions for them.  She is charged with conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone. 

• Daniel Ralph Mauck, 34, of Manassas Park, Va., is alleged to have obtained and distributed Oxycodone illegally together with his wife, Patricia Mauck, and his brother Wallace Lee Mauck.  He is alleged to have sold pills from his residence in Manassas Park and to have digitally produced fraudulent prescriptions on a laptop computer.   He is charged with conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone.

• Wallace Lee Mauck, 29, of Manassas, Va., is alleged to have obtained Oxycodone using false prescriptions, and to have used other individuals to fill prescriptions for him.  Court documents allege that he used false prescriptions forged by his brother Daniel Ralph Mauck.  He is charged with conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone.   

• Patricia Mauck, 29, of Manassas Park, is married to Daniel Ralph Mauck.  She is charged with conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone and is alleged to have been involved in the scheme with her husband to obtain and sell pills.  According to court documents she sold Oxycodone pills from her residence.

• Donald Brian Austin, 24, of Manassas, Va., is charged with illegally obtaining Oxycodone.  He is alleged to have obtained Oxycodone by filling false prescriptions at a pharmacy in Dale City. 

• Jennifer Leigh Edwards, 32, of Manassas, Va., is charged with illegally obtaining Oxycodone.  Court documents allege that Edwards passed forged prescriptions in pharmacies in Haymarket and in Vienna for the prescription medication Roxicodone.

Also charged this week but not yet apprehended include the following:

• Roland Donald Reynolds, Jr., 24, of Sterling, Va., is charged with attempted use of a forged prescription to obtain Oxycodone.

• Ashley Nicole Foster, 23, of Remington, Va., is charged with attempted use of a forged prescription to obtain Oxycodone.

If convicted of the charges filed this week, the defendants face the following penalties:

• Conspiracy to distribute a Schedule II controlled substance, to wit: Oxycodone:  a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison, though the defendants may face enhanced maximum penalties if they have prior criminal records.

• Obtaining a Schedule II controlled substance, to wit: Oxycodone, by fraud: a maximum of 4 years in prison, though the defendants may face enhanced maximum penalties if they have prior criminal records.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of Virginia State Police, Prince William County Police Department, Fairfax County Police Department, Manassas City Police Department, Manassas Park Police Department, Purcellville Police Department, Leesburg Police Department, Vienna Police Department, Falls Church Police Department, Fauquier County Police Department, Berkley County Sheriff’s Office, Martinsburg City Police Department, and Warrenton Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Dickey and Lindsay Kelly, and Special Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew Creighton, Fred Medick, Amanda Cody and Andy Ewalt are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

            This case is part of an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”)  investigation (Operation “Cotton Candy”), which has been focusing on the illegal distribution by numerous doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and patients of pain medication, including the very  potent, expensive, and widely-abused oxycodone, also known by the brand name of “OxyContin”.  This OCDETF matter has secured more than 200 drug-trafficking convictions and guilty pleas.

Criminal complaints are only charges and not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.

 

 

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