An Independence, Missouri couple faces federal charges for their part in a large-scale prescription drug fraud ring.
Douglas L. Machamer, 48, and his wife, Rebecca L. Bachamer, 35, were charged Wednesday in U.S. District Court with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.
According to court documents, the pair worked with several other people to pass several thousand fraud prescriptions over the last few years in the Kansas City area using many different names.
The Independence Drug Unit started their investigation back in 2013, after an area doctor noticed a large amount of fraudulent prescriptions being passed in his name. Using copies of the prescriptions, detectives were able to identify several people they believed were involved in the fraud conspiracy.
In August 2013, Rebecca Machamer was pulled over following a traffic stop in Raytown. Officers obtained a search warrant for her cell phone, and found several names and text conversations relating back to the fraudulent prescription deals.
A few months later in November, police were able to execute a search warrant at a home in the 700 block of Lewis Street in Kansas City. There, Rebecca Machamer and several others were taken into custody.
Court document say officers found numerous fraud prescription documents, blank prescription paper and several drivers’ licenses in Rebecca Machamer’s purse.
Douglas Machamer turned himself in to police a few weeks later. Court documents say he admitted to participating in the fraud conspiracy. He told detectives he started passing fraudulent prescriptions to make ends meet.
According to court documents, members of the ring obtained legitimate prescription forms and stolen identifications to use at area pharmacies. They used the prescriptions mainly for opioid pain medications like oxycodone or OxyContin and tried to pass upwards of 10 fraudulent prescriptions almost every day over a period of several years.
Rebecca and Douglas Machamer face a maximum of 20 years in prison with a $5 million fine.
In a separate case filed in federal court last year, 10 other people were also charged for their alleged involvement in the prescription fraud ring. Several have since pleaded guilty.
