Crime & Safety
Three Wexford Residents Named in Prescription Drug Indictment
The Butler County Drug Task Force, which includes officers from Cranberry, aided in the investigation.
United States Attorney David J. Hickton Tuesday announced the indictment of 12 individuals, including three Wexford residents, on charges of operating a prescription drug ring in Allegheny and Beaver Counties.
“These indictments charge participants at all levels of a western Pennsylvania oxycodone and Opana distribution ring —from the leader, to the prescription thief, to the pharmacy burglars, to the runners who presented the fake prescriptions to be filled,” said U.S. Attorney Hickton. “Dismantling these operations continues to be a priority of this office as we endeavor to address the prescription drug abuse epidemic. As this case illustrates, abuse of prescription pills can result in grave harm and death.”
Among those arrested are Ryan Raithel, 33, Janna Gahagan, 29, and Christopher Nugent, all of McCandless.
Raithel is charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute the Schedule II controlled substances oxycodone and oxymorphone, in the form known as Opana.
He is also charged with heroin distribution. He faces up to 20 years in prison on each count, and fines of up to $1,000,000 if convicted.
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Gahagan and Nugent are charged with conspiring to obtain oxycodone by using a fraudulent prescription. Both face up to four years in prison and fines of $250,000 if convicted.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Economy Borough and Cranberry Township Police departments conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in these cases, the U.S. Attorney's office said.
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“Prescription drug abuse encompasses far more than the act of selling drugs; it often involves property crimes and crimes of violence. It is a serious threat to our communities and children," said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge David G. Dongilli.
“DEA is committed to confronting this threat to public health and will continue to target those who would profit from the illegal sales of prescription drugs without regard to the damage it causes to people and communities."
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