Muscogee County (September 20, 2022) – An employee from the Acute Care Emergence healthcare center in Columbus has been arrested and charged with 242 counts of obtaining drugs by fraud and distribution after she illegally forged prescriptions for a popular weight loss drug and ADHD medication.
Police responded to 7901 Veterans Parkway after they received a call from the clinic that an employee was forging prescriptions. The office staff reviewed the logs and found that Kelli A Goodwin, 35, had filled 186 prescriptions for Phentermine, an appetite suppressant to aid weight loss, and Dextroamp-Amphetamine, an ADHD medication, without authorization.
It was determined that out of the 186 prescriptions filled by Goodwin, 121 of them were obtained for herself and members of her family. She had written the prescriptions and fraudulently used the doctor’s signature stamp so that she was able to have the medications filled by a pharmacy.
Goodwin had a previous suspension for using the doctor’s signature stamp without approval.
After speaking with the doctor at the clinic, he stated that he had never filled a prescription for Phentermine, nor had he ever signed one for anyone else.
As a result, Goodwin was arrested and charged with 121 counts of obtaining a dangerous drug by fraud, forgery, or concealment. She was charged with an additional 121 counts of unauthorized distribution of a controlled substance. She faces one count for each time she fraudulently used the doctor’s stamp to obtain both drugs.
Goodwin was transported to the Muscogee County jail for booking. This is an active case and more information will be provided as it becomes available.
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the officer’s narrative report. We do not fix any spelling or grammatical errors. Any changes made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist.]
On Tuesday, September 20th 2022, at approximately 1441 hours I, Officer Eric Stracener (3B19), was dispatched to 7901 Veterans Parkway (ACE) in reference to fraudulent prescriptions.
Police were contacted in reference to the forgery of prescriptions. Upon arrival I met with the complainant who stated they reviewed their logs and found that 186 prescriptions were filled for Phentermine and Dextroamp-Amphetamine. 121 of which are for the arrestee and her family. The pharmacies were contacted and described the arrestee as the one that filled the prescription. The arrestee has been suspended in the past for using the doctors stamp fraudulently.
I contacted the Doctor who stated he had never filled a prescription for Phentermine, nor has he ever signed a prescription for anyone in the arrestee’s family. Subject was arrested for 121x 16-13-78 Obtaining Drugs by Fraud, and 121x 16-13-43(3)(5) Unauthorized Distribution. One charge of each for each prescription that was fraudulently signed by the stamp.
Subject was transported to the Muscogee County Jail pending a Recorder’s Court date of 09/20/2022.
[End of Narrative]
