Attorney General files criminal charges against four for diverting prescription drugs
The state Attorney General filed criminal charges against four Allegheny County residents, including one from Bridgeville and one from Carnegie, who took part in a criminal conspiracy that involved prescription drug diversion.
According to the state Attorney General, between March and June of this year, Dena Lazar, of 2063 Walton Ave., Pittsburgh and Jill S. Harlan, of 1085 Butler Road, Springdale, both physician assistants, filled out unauthorized prescriptions for Lazar’s mother, Jodi L. Cantor, 50, of 1061 Coolidge St., Bridgeville, and for Brandon Bodnar, of 1463 Sturdy Oak Drive, Carnegie. Prescriptions were issued to Lazar, Harlan, Cantor, Bodnar, and four unidentified individuals, some of whom were not aware their names were being used.
The Attorney General’s office said the investigation, which included the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, found the alleged conspiracy included 48 prescriptions for 2,890 oxycodone pills, 240 hydrocodone pills and 330 lorazepam pills. Investigators said there were also three other attempts to acquire prescriptions for 90 clonazepam pills and 180 oxycodone pills.
Lazar is charged with six counts of illegal acquisition of a controlled substance, three counts of identity theft, two counts of criminal attempt and one count each of illegal administration of a controlled substance by a practitioner and criminal conspiracy.
Harlan is charged with one count each of illegal administration of a controlled substance by a practitioner, identity theft and criminal conspiracy. Cantor and Bodnar are both charged with two counts each of illegal acquisition of a controlled substance and one count each of criminal conspiracy and criminal attempt.
Lazar, Harlan and Cantor appeared in court Sept. 17 for their preliminary arraignments. Bail for each of the three was set at $10,000 unsecured. Bodnar is still being sought on an active arrest warrant.