Brian Smith
Two Madison County residents are among 15 people arrested Tuesday on charges of forging prescriptions for the pain medication OxyContin, the state attorney general’s office announced.
Robert Bentley, 42, and Diane Bentley, 37, both were lodged in the Madison County Detention Center following their arrests, according to a news release from Attorney General Jack Conway’s office.
Arrests also were made in Fayette, Letcher and Perry counties as part of a year-long investigation by the Department of Criminal Investigations, a part of Conway’s office, and the Office of Inspector General.
Kentucky State Police troopers and agents with Operation Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and Education (UNITE) made the arrests earlier this month during a three-day roundup, the news release states.
Additional arrests are pending in connection with the investigation, the news release states. Everyone arrested as part of the investigation has been charged with possession of a forged prescription and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, both Class D felonies punishable by up to five years in prison each if convicted.
The charges stem from OxyContin prescriptions being filled using stolen prescription blanks, the news release states.
Diane Bentley faces two counts each of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and first-degree criminal possession of a forged prescription, while Robert Bentley faces one count of each charge.
Both entered guilty pleas in Madison Circuit Court earlier this year on drug charges in an unrelated case.
Robert Bentley pleaded guilty to first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, second offense, and possession of drug paraphernalia, and is set to be sentenced Dec. 3 to five years in prison.
Diane Bentley pleaded guilty to first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, second offense, and first-degree possession of a controlled substance (heroin) and also is set to be sentenced Dec. 3 to five years in prison.
The two were indicted on the charges in August after selling oxycodone pills and heroin to a cooperating witness working for the Kentucky State Police on June 8 of this year.
Robert Bentley had a pill scraper, spoons and needles in his possession when arrested, while Diane Bentley was found with an undisclosed quantity of heroin.
Arraignments for both Robert and Diane Bentley, along with several other defendants, were scheduled for 8:30 a.m. today in Fayette Circuit Court in Lexington.
Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694.
