Community
Doctor Arrested for Obtaining Fraudulent Prescriptions
| Nature of Incident: | Doctor Arrested for Obtaining Fraudulent Prescriptions | ||||
| Report Number: | 19-178500 | ||||
| Location: | 600 block of Spring Road, Moorpark, CA | ||||
| Date & Time: | December 2018 through October 2019 | ||||
| Unit(s) Responsible: | Ventura County Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit (PCU) Ventura County Sheriff’s Office; Moorpark Patrol Station State of California, Division of Investigation, Health Quality Investigation Unit |
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| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
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| (S) Erik Bezema | Thousand Oaks |
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| Narrative: | |||||
| On November 14, 2019, Moorpark Patrol deputies were dispatched to a report of fraudulent prescription activity at the Moorpark Family Medical Clinic, where a doctor was suspected of committing prescription fraud. Moorpark patrol deputies took a crime report and documented the fraudulent activities. Once the criminal activity was reported, the Ventura County Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit (PCU) was called in to assist with the investigation. The PCU conducted numerous interviews, including follow-up interviews with the employees of the medical clinic. The investigation also included using the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) which is California’s prescription drug monitoring program. Using CURES, the PCU was able to verify the information received during this investigation and determine Dr. Bezema had fraudulently obtained prescriptions on 11 different occasions for Phentermine and Acetaminophen with Codeine. On January 17, 2020, detectives from the PCU concluded this two month fraudulent prescription investigation into Dr. Bezema. Detectives located and arrested Dr. Bezema in Thousand Oaks without incident. Dr. Bezema was interviewed and booked into custody at the Thousand Oaks Jail facility for 11368 HS – forged prescription and 530.5(a) PC – identity theft. The Ventura County Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit is a task force made up of members from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Thousand Oaks Police Department and the Ventura Police Department. The primary mission of the task force is combatting the transfer of legal prescription medication to the illegal market. In addition, the task force works to identify and stop new trends of abuse among the younger population and investigates overdoses due to both prescription medication and illicit drug use. The public may also anonymously use the email [email protected] to report pharmaceutical related crimes involving prescription medications. |
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| Prepared by: | Sergeant Matthew Young | ||||
| News Release Date: | January 17, 2020 | ||||
| Media Follow-Up Contact: | Detective Stephen Egnatchik (805) 384-4752 [email protected] |
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| Approved by: | Captain Jeff Miller |
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Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511