DEA raids The Plains Pharmacy

By Scott Shenk - Staff Writer - Published in: Citizenet.com
November, 2003

Federal agents closed The Plains Pharmacy for several hours Nov. 6 while they searched through the business's records.

The search lasted "most of the day" last Wednesday, said attorney John Zwerling, who represents the pharmacy's owner Toby Merchant.

They seized paper documents and copied computer hard drives, Mr. Zwerling said.

"They're searching for evidence of criminal activity. They're unlikely to find anything," Mr. Zwerling said.

"Unfortunately there's really nothing we can tell you," a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration spokesperson said. "It's an ongoing investigation. There were no arrests."

Agents from the Health and Human Services, the FBI and the U.S. Postal Service also helped with the search.

Mr. Zwerling, who has read the search warrant, believes agents are investigating drug abuse by people who improperly get prescriptions from doctors.

"They're looking for drugs that came through the pharmacy," the Alexandria attorney said.

But, he added: "We don't know exactly where (the DEA is) going" with the investigation.

Mr. Merchant, who opened the pharmacy 35 years ago, said he also remains in the dark.

"I don't know what is going on," the 61-year-old said. "There's an enormous amount of things going on. It's been an interesting situation in my life over the last week."

Mr. Zwerling said the DEA in June 2001 conducted a "standard" inspection of the pharmacy's records.

The DEA conducts such inspections of pharmacies and doctors' offices routinely, the attorney said.

Mr. Merchant cooperated fully with the DEA, Mr. Zwerling added.

After the 2001 inspection, DEA officials noted "a few minor things they would prefer to be corrected," Mr. Zwerling said.

For instance, the DEA objected to the pharmacy temporarily storing prescription narcotics at a warehouse a block from the store, according to Mr. Zwerling.

None of the drugs disappeared, he added. And, the problems "were corrected."

"That's the last we heard of them until the (Nov. 6) search," Mr. Zwerling said.

The pharmacy remains open and operating normally.