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Man Busted In Clearwater On Prescription Drug Trafficking Charges

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 27, 2007

Updated: 10/27/2007 12:28 pm

CLEARWATER - Pinellas County detectives have arrested a Sarasota man on drug trafficking charges, saying he may have passed phony prescriptions in six other counties.

The Pinellas Sheriff's Office said narcotics detectives arrested Shawn D. Horton, 38, on Friday night when he tried to refill a prescription at a Walgreen's in Belleair Bluffs.

The investigation started Oct. 1, when a pharmacist alerted detectives about a prescription he had filled two days earlier. Detectives determined the prescription was forged and the name fake, according to a sheriff's office news release.

After establishing a pattern of refills for faked prescriptions, detectives arrested Horton, 4603 Thomas Hobby Place, at the drug store about 6:30 p.m, the sheriff's office said.

Detectives say Horton had more than 100 forged prescriptions, organized to tell when each could be refilled, at which pharmacy and under what fake name.

Detectives said they think Horton also filled forged prescriptions in Hillsborough, Pasco, Manatee, Lee, Sarasota and DeSoto counties.

He was charged with 14 counts each of trafficking in Hydrocodone and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and is being held at the Pinellas County Jail. Each trafficking charge carries a bond of $100,000, and each charge of obtaining a controlled substance carries a bond of $5,000.

Detectives said they will present their evidence to a statewide prosecutor to determine if charges should be filed in other counties.

The sheriff's office said Horton told detectives he used some of the drugs and sold others.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at 813-259-7731 or njohnson@tampatrib.com

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