Virginia Pharmacy Agrees to Pay $100K in Civil Penalties

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Partners Pharmacy of Virginia, LLC (“Partners Pharmacy”), located in Richmond, has agreed to pay $100,000 to settle civil penalty claims stemming from alleged record-keeping violations.

The United States alleged that Partners Pharmacy, a pharmacy that serves long-term care, skilled and assisted living communities, violated the Controlled Substances Act by failing to maintain complete and accurate records of controlled substances, failing to document transfers of Schedule II controlled substances, and failing to timely notify the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) of theft or losses of controlled substances.

Under the terms of a parallel administrative resolution, Partners Pharmacy entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the DEA under which the pharmacy has agreed to heightened compliance requirements.

“Ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Controlled Substances Act is the first step to avoiding drug diversion,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “This office is committed to utilizing all remedies available to stop drug diversion and to working closely with our partners at DEA.”

“This settlement sends a clear message to all pharmacies that it is essential to dispense controlled substances in compliance with DEA’s record keeping requirements,” stated Jesse R. Fong, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Washington Division. “DEA is dedicated to combatting the prescription drug abuse problem in Virginia and throughout the country and to hold all DEA registrants accountable.”

Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to combat the illegal distribution and abuse of controlled substances, including prescription medications. Under the CSA, entities registered with the DEA who purchase, distribute, dispense, transfer, or sell controlled substances must comply with inventory and documentation requirements. Regulations promulgated under the CSA require that each DEA registrant, including pharmacies, maintain complete and accurate records of each substance manufactured, received, sold, delivered, dispensed or otherwise disposed of by the registrant for two years. These requirements play a vital role in ensuring the appropriate handling, accounting, and distribution of controlled substances.

The resolutions obtained in this matter were the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the DEA’s Washington Division, Richmond District Office.

The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ilene Albala and Robert P. McIntosh. The civil claims settled by this Controlled Substances Act agreement are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.