July 27--Police arrested a Medford doctor's office manager on Monday for allegedly using the doctor's identity to illegally obtain thousands of generic Vicodin pills over a three-year period, police said.
Jodi Setzer, 41, of Central Point, allegedly used the doctor's personal identifying information and Drug Enforcement Administration number to fraudulently obtain 7,800 10-milligram tablets of the generic pain relief drug, also called hydrocodone. Police suspect Setzer submitted requests to fill more than 150 prescriptions at 12 area pharmacies from September 2009 to December 2011.
"Ballpark street value is right around 20 bucks a pill," said Medford police Sgt. Brent Mak. "That's a lot of pills."
Mak's cost estimate would put the value of the pills Setzer allegedly obtained at $156,000.
Setzer was arrested Monday by Medford police. Her husband, Jason Setzer, 42, who police suspect was also involved, was cited on four counts of aggravated identity theft and released Wednesday.
Police said the doctor's office was in the middle of investigating a possible embezzlement tied to Setzer last week when records for the bogus prescriptions were discovered.
Police were contacted after the discovery.
Whether the couple used the pills for recreational purposes, sold them or both is still under investigation, police said.
"(It) would be speculative at this point," Mak said.
Police have not yet released the name of the doctor's office Setzer worked for, but have said it is in the 400 block of Murphy Road.
Jodi Setzer faces four charges of aggravated identity theft, five counts of tampering with drug records and one count of identity theft.
She is no longer being held at the Jackson County Jail. Her bail had been set at $70,000.
"We know that she has done other bookkeeping work for other local businesses, and that they could be a victim as well," Mak said, adding businesses who have used Setzer's services should contact the Medford Police Department's Financial Investigative Section.
Neither Jodi nor Jason Setzer appear to have additional criminal histories in Jackson County, court records show.
Copyright 2012 - Mail Tribune, Medford, Ore.
