Multiple arrested for involvement in drug trafficking ring

Multiple suspects have been arrested and charged after an employee for a neurologist's office was caught forging prescriptions for controlled substances, according to the Austin Police Department.

The employee is facing federal charges for her part in a drug trafficking organization.

According to court documents, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) received a tip from Capital Area Crime Stoppers that 31-year-old Kristy Hargrove, a staff employee in the the Austin Neurology and Sleep Associates office was writing prescriptions although she was not authorized to. 

Hargrove was forging the prescriptions under the DEA registration number of Dr. Michael Hummer. 

During the course of the investigation, it was revealed that prescriptions for nineteen individuals for controlled substances were written on a monthly basis. Dr. Hummer told detectives with APD that none of the individuals were patients and that the prescriptions were fraudulently written. 

The nineteen individuals would fill the written prescription illegally written by Hargrove and return them to the drug trafficking organization. In exchange, the individuals would keep some of the controlled substances or receive cash payments. 

The prescriptions were written for Norco, a common brand of acetaminophen or hydrocodone.

Norco is a narcotic pain reliever with a high risk for addiction and dependence.

40-year-old Janis Edwards, 31-year-old Krystal Haycock, 37-year-old Latanya Britton, 44-year-old Raymon Roberts, and 42-year-old Terrance Clark all filled numerous prescriptions written by Hargrove for the drug trafficking organization.

Obtaining a controlled substance by fraud is a second degree felony.