Elmhurst pharmacist charged with forgery, unlawful acquisition of controlled substance

ELMHURST – An Elmhurst pharmacist has been charged with three felonies after he allegedly filled prescriptions 35 times for drugs related to opiates and pain medications using a Chicago dentist's prescriber number at Mariano's, 678 N. York St., Elmhurst, according to the Elmhurst Police Department.

James McDonald, 53, of Elmhurst was charged at 2:37 p.m. Jan. 23 with forgery, identity theft and unlawful acquisition of a controlled substance, Elmhurst Deputy Police Chief Mike McLean said in a phone interview Feb. 12.

McLean said a Chicago dentist had checked Drug Enforcement Administration records and noticed his prescriber number reportedly had been used to fill prescriptions through McDonald, but the dentist had not prescribed any drugs through McDonald. The dentist notified Mariano's, which then investigated pharmacy records and noticed several prescriptions prescribed to McDonald, McLean said.

In all, there were about 35 prescription instances in the past two years, and the most recent was Jan. 10, he said.

The charges on Jan. 23 were for the alleged acquisition of tramadol and Ambien, DuPage County State's Attorney's Office Communications Manager Paul Darrah said in a phone interview Feb. 14.

McLean said instances of pharmacists forging prescriptions are "very rare."

McDonald is scheduled for arraignment at 9 a.m. Feb. 20 in front of DuPage County Judge Brian Telander. A public defender has been appointed to represent him, Darrah said.