Deputies: X-ray tech passed 121 fake prescriptions

LARGO - An X-ray technician was arrested for writing fake prescriptions for herself and filling them at CVS and Target stores in Pinellas County.

Deputies say a pharmacist at one Target became suspicious of Jessica Rhodes, 27, late last month, noticing that Rhodes was getting weekly prescriptions for Hydrocodone from an area podiatrist.

The pharmacist called detectives, who found that Rhodes had worked for the podiatrist for three years but was no longer employed at that office. Detectives continued to investigate and found that Rhodes had written prescriptions 121 fake prescriptions between April 2009 and June 2010.

The prescriptions were for Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, and Endocent, the brand name for Oxycodone. Deputies say the fraudulent prescriptions gave Rhodes a total of 4,395 tablets.

The podiatrist Rhodes had worked for denied providing Rhodes any of the prescriptions, investigators say.

Rhodes was arrested Sunday at her apartment on Sailwinds Boulevard. She has been charged with fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance and trafficking in Hydrocodone.

Jail records show Rhodes was released on bond early Monday morning.

According to deputies, Rhodes is a certified podiatric X-ray assistant and her medical license is active. Investigators have not found out if she had been working at another doctor's office.