This week, two women, originally arrested on state charges, were charged federally with conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud, identity theft, and money laundering. The women allegedly obtained the DEA numbers of at least 23 doctors and simply sold false prescriptions. They marketed the prescriptions through internet chat rooms.
Interestingly, they do not seem to have been charged under 21 USC 841, the federal drug trafficking law. In light of the murkiness of that area, perhaps prosecutors decided they wanted to stay with the simplest theories. The other charges carry significant penalties too.
For the full story, see here.
