Jury finds woman guilty of calling in fake prescription

Published 12:03 am Saturday, March 22, 2014

A jury on Friday found a local woman guilty of attempted unlawful possession of a controlled substance after she tried to use a fake prescription to obtain pain pills.

According to information from the Covington County District Attorney’s office, Janna Leigh Nelson, 37, was convicted of the charge Friday after a two-day trial in Covington County circuit court.

Assistant District Attorney, and prosecuting lawyer in the case, Emmett Massey told jurors Nelson called in a fake prescription for Lortab to Rite Aide Pharmacy in Andalusia in February of 2010. Nelson then pretended to be a nurse from a local doctor’s office, but aroused the suspicion of pharmacists. Rite Aid staff members checked with the physician Nelson named, who subsequently denied having prescribed the medication. Agents with the 22nd Judicial Drug Task Force were notified, and Nelson was later apprehended while attempting to fill the fake prescription.

Following Friday’s guilty verdict, Massey praised law enforcement, as well as the staff of Rite Aid, for taking steps to stop the crime.

“This was truly a team effort,” Massey said. “Prescription pill abuse is becoming rampant, and we will stay ever vigilant to work with our local pharmacies and doctor’s offices to prevent and prosecute those who would manipulate and abuse this system.”

Nelson will be sentenced in May by Circuit Judge Ashley McKathan.