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A former Demopolis pharmacist was sentenced today to three years of probation and fined $1,000.00 for fraudulently obtaining promethazine-codeine syrup, a Schedule V controlled substance, from her then-employing pharmacy.

According to court documents, Susan Speed, 60, of Gallion was formerly employed as a licensed pharmacist at a privately-owned pharmacy in Demopolis. This pharmacy received prescriptions in one of three ways:

• A customer could bring in a written prescription from a doctor.
• A doctor could electronically submit a prescription to the pharmacy.
• A doctor could call the pharmacy and provide the pharmacist with the prescription information over the phone.

For phoned in prescriptions, the only record held by the pharmacy showing that a doctor had issued the prescription were the notes input by the pharmacist who received the doctor’s call.

In early 2018, Speed’s primary care physician legitimately issued her two prescriptions for promethazine-codeine syrup. These valid prescriptions were filled at Speed’s pharmacy. Thereafter, and for the next five years, Speed input information into the pharmacy’s database that made it appear as if her doctor regularly called in prescriptions for promethazine-codeine syrup for her. Speed filled nearly 200 prescriptions for herself in this manner. These prescriptions were not valid and had not been issued by any doctor.

In early 2023, DEA discovered a large amount of promethazine-codeine syrup was unaccounted for during a routine audit of Speed’s pharmacy. The pharmacy owner installed a hidden camera, and Speed was recorded taking promethazine-codeine syrup from her pharmacy. Upon being confronted with this, Speed admitted she did not have a valid prescription for the promethazine-codeine syrup and voluntarily relinquished her pharmacy license.

During the sentencing hearing, Chief Judge Jeffrey Beaverstock noted that general deterrence was very important in this case. While Speed has lost her license and can no longer fill prescriptions, he recognized that this case should be viewed as a cautionary tale for other pharmacists who might consider abusing their position of trust by fraudulently filling controlled substance prescriptions.

“This defendant’s actions not only compromised the integrity of the pharmacy profession but also undermined the efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. DEA is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to identify and dismantle illegal drug trafficking networks, including those involving healthcare professionals,” said Steven Hofer, DEA special agent in charge of the New Orleans Division.

DEA division investigator Dexter Young out of Birmingham investigated this case along with assistance from the Alabama Board of Pharmacy.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Bodnar prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.