More than 20 people, including four from Dallas, have been arrested in a Texas and Louisiana prescription drug ring allegedly using the homeless to pose as patients.
Federal prosecutors in North Texas on Wednesday announced the 23 suspects are from Houston, Austin and Dallas, plus Lafayette and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
An indictment unsealed Tuesday in Dallas says the scheme began in 2013 and often involved homeless or poor people being paid fees to pose as patients. The ringleaders then obtained the prescriptions and sold the drugs.
Prosecutors say 21 suspects have been arrested. Each was charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Nineteen defendants are also charged with unlawful use of a communication facility.
The defendants charged are:
Sina Athari, 24, of Houston, Texas
Shane Barron, 27, of Austin, Texas
Carolina Giselle Berrio, a/k/a “Carolina Slocum Berrio” and “Karrie,” 36, of Lafayette, Louisiana
Angela Moore Booth, 48, of Lafayette, Louisiana
Earl Cain, 53, of Houston, Texas
Glenda Cane, 46, of Houston, Texas
Lashavia Syneice Denson, a/k/a “Shae Denson” and “Shay Denson,” 26, of Houston, Texas
Jason Edgecombe, 38, of Houston, Texas
Darlene Viola Fortenberry, 69, of Houston, Texas
Bertha Alicia Garcia, 49, of Houston, Texas
Tony Sue Griggs, 34, of Dallas, Texas
William Hopkins, a/k/a “New York,” 53, of Dallas, Texas
Fahim Ahmed Khan, 57, of Houston, Texas
Candis O’Shaea Lewis, 29, of Dallas, Texas
Patrick Moore, a/k/a/ “Crowley,” 23, of Lafayette, Louisiana
Ivery Myers, 63, of Houston, Texas
Taneisha Nicole Nickerson, a/k/a “Nookie,” 28, of Houston, Texas
Cornelius Delshun Robinson, a/k/a “Tadow,” 36, of Houston, Texas
Shalisa Shaunta Robinson, a/k/a “Shalisa Speed,” 29, of Houston, Texas
Markii Josett Shular, 30, of Dallas, Texas
Tasmin Jamal Stewart, a/k/a “Taz,” 30, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Muhammad Taylor, 32 of Houston, Texas
Cy Viator, 32, of Houston, Texas
