A homeless woman from Springfield Missouri is facing charges in Izard County after an agent with the 16th Judicial District Drug Task Force learned she was fraudulently obtaining pharmaceuticals.
According to the affidavit filed April 7, authorities were contacted by a pharmacy in Melbourne stating that on March 21, a female claiming to be Sara Walsh called in a prescription using the name of a Harrison physician, using her Drug Enforcement Administration number.
The woman later identified as 33-year-old Ashley Zellefrow, then arrived at the pharmacy on March 24 and picked up a prescription for Promethazine-Codeine cough syrup which is a Schedule V controlled substance.
After this prescription had been filled, the pharmacy was contacted by the physician stating she had not issued this prescription and did not have a patient named Sara Walsh.
On April 5, Zellefrow returned to the pharmacy to refill the prescription at which time authorities were contacted.
Zellefrow was taken into custody but maintained her name was Sara Walsh. Her real identity was later revealed. During a post Miranda Rights statements, Zellefrow admitted she was the person who had picked up the initial prescription, and intended to pick up the second.
“Zellefrow stated she and others do this to resale the codeine-based cough syrup,” the affidavit stated.
As a result, Zellefrow has been charged with Criminal Attempt, a class D felony and controlled substances – fraudulent practices a class D felony. Her bond was set at $10,000.
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