15 People Arrested For Smuggling Pills From Los Angeles to Mexico

Fifteen people - including a physician, a pharmacy manager and gang members - have been arrested in a conspiracy to smuggle prescription drugs into Mexico from Los Angeles by strapping thousands of pills onto human mules on August 20, 2011.

Tyron Reece, an Inglewood physician who admitted to regularly writing fraudulent prescriptions for commonly abused medications - including hydrocodone was arrested last week on charges of conspiracy to distribute drugs by writing out fake prescriptions and charging $60 per prescription.

Along with Reece, 14 people were arrested, including a pharmacy manager and gang members.

Members of the ring allegedly organized by Anthony Wright, 67, filled the prescriptions at Dabney's Pharmacy in South Los Angeles (manager Charles Dabney) and failed to report them to the state attorney general's office, as is required. Then the pills were smuggled into Tijuana that netted more than $400,000 in  a period of six months.


November of 2010, agents arrested a woman transporting 8,200 hydrocodone pills. About a week later, agents stopped a car at the border and found 3,700 hydrocodone tablets strapped to a purported ring member's abdomen. On another occasion, border agents discovered more than 3,200 prescription pills taped to a smuggler's abdomen.

In all, authorities have seized more than 18,000 pills during the operation.

This particular investigation has been an ongoing state-federal investigation. Depending on which level the crimes are charged, if you are facing conspiracy and/or prescription drug fraud charges you will be facing excessive fines and prison time.

It is very important that you contact a defense attorney immediately to get on your case.

Our lawyers in L.A. have the experience and skill to defend you. The federal (as well as state) government takes conspiracy and prescription drug fraud crimes very seriously.

We know how the prosecutors work and think and we are confident that ourdefense attorneys in Los Angeles will effectively represent you.