Latest news with #PacePharmacy
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Yahoo
Embattled Pace Pharmacy facing lawsuit over death of customer
Pace Pharmacy and its owners are facing a lawsuit after a former client died within days of filling his prescription. Levin Papantonio filed a lawsuit on behalf of Andrew Strickland's family after the 47-year-old was found unresponsive in his bedroom in June 2023, just 10 days after filling his prescription for morphine and diazepam. "As fathers around the Pensacola community were celebrating Father's Day, this family was mourning the loss of theirs because of pharmacies like Pace Pharmacy," attorney Peter Mougey told the News Journal. "They don't follow the mandated guidelines from the federal government to monitor and check for red flags associated with opiate prescriptions." Strickland became a patient of the now-embattled Dr. Elaine Sharp in 2023 after he suffered serious burns from a bonfire accident. Sharp began prescribing Strickland powerful pain medications, which he filled at Pace Pharmacy, according to court documents. "Andy was my special middle child," said Strickland's mother Ann. "He was a funny, intelligent, caring young man with a promising future ahead of him." During Strickland's autopsy, the medical examiner deemed his cause of death was due to the combined toxic effects of fentanyl, morphine, buprenorphine, bromazolam, diazepam and gabapentin. Included in the lawsuit are licensed pharmacists Stephen Burklow and David Winkles. Monique Burklow, who owns the pharmacy along with Stephen, is also named in the lawsuit. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested the Burklows and Winkles on May 14 for allegedly running a pill mill operation. The group has reportedly been under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement since 2020 after they were linked to another alleged pill mill operation led by Sharp. The trio from Pace Pharmacy are charged with conspiring to traffic prescription drugs including trafficking over 22 kilograms of oxycodone, over 26 kilograms of hydrocodone and just shy of one kilogram of hydromorphone. "This is a case about accountability," Mougey said. "Pharmacies have a legal and moral duty to act as a line of defense against dangerous prescribing practices. "In this case, that duty was catastrophically breached, and their failure to follow the law and their professional duties cost a man his life," Mougey added. The lawsuit alleges five separate counts related to Strickland's death including: Negligence, gross negligence and reckless conduct of pharmacist Stephen Burklow Negligence, gross negligence and reckless conduct of pharmacist David Winkles Negligence of Pace Pharmacy LLC and vicarious liability for actions of pharmacy staff Negligence of Pace Pharmacy LLC in its independent duties to ensure safe and lawful operations of the pharmacy As noted in the lawsuit as well as FDLE reports, Pace Pharmacy was one of the last pharmacies that would fill prescriptions with Sharp's name. Sharp, who has been charged with murder and multiple drug trafficking crimes, was alleged to have "dangerous prescribing practices" for the amount of narcotic pain killers given to patients. Due to these alleged practices, many pharmacies in Northwest Florida would not fill any prescriptions with her name. Walmart even had a standing order that no pharmacy under the supermarket's umbrella was to fill any of Sharp's prescriptions. Mougey told the News Journal that he expects more lawsuits like the one filed on behalf of Strickland's family, saying Sharp has "wreaked havoc" on the Pensacola community. "There's a checks and balances in our system," he said. "Pharmacists are required to double check the doctors ... to ensure dangerous amounts of opiates or combination drugs like Xanax and benzos, which can dramatically increase the risk of respiratory distress, (aren't prescribed)." According to the Florida Department of Health, Sharp obtained her initial licensure as a medical doctor in 1989 and primarily practiced in the specialty area of obstetrics and gynecology. She studied medicine at University of Texas-Houston and conducted her residency in Tulsa, Oklahoma, according to her health department practitioner profile. She ultimately opened her own practice on El Rito Drive in Gulf Breeze. In 2017, Sharp began prescribing controlled substances for both opioid addiction treatment and for the treatment of chronic malignant pain. According to the health department, Sharp soon developed a reputation for prescribing pain medications in significantly higher doses than other pain management physicians. Prior to the current investigation, Sharp had no recorded disciplinary or administrative actions taken against her, according to Florida Department of Health records. Stephen "Steve" A. Burklow, 54, and Monique Hunter Burklow, 58, are spouses and the owners of Pace Pharmacy, located at 4880 Woodbine Road. Stephen A. Burklow was licensed as a pharmacist Aug. 3, 1993, according to Florida Department of Health records, and has been an independent pharmacy owner for 20 years, according to his website. He previously owned and operated Burklow Pharmacy, also in Pace. Stephen and Monique Burklow arrested: Owners of Pace Pharmacy arrested on pill mill, drug trafficking allegations He specializes in compounding, the practice of mixing customer-specific medications in house, and independent retail pharmacy. As of May 15, his license remained clear and active. Monique has been a human resource manager in independent pharmacy for 20 years, the Pace Pharmacy website says. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pace Pharmacy Stephen Monique Burklow sued after patient's death
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Yahoo
Pace Pharmacy owners arrested again on additional drug charges, along with fourth suspect
The embattled owners of Pace Pharmacy were arrested again June 23 on more drug-related charges after their arrest in an ongoing investigating into an alleged local pill mill and drug trafficking scheme. Santa Rosa County Sheriff's deputies arrested Stephen and Monique Burklow for multiple felonies and misdemeanors. Deputies also arrested 22-year-old Laikyn Burklow, who shares the same home address as Stephen and Monique, for misdemeanor possession of a new legend drug without a prescription. Stephen Burklow was arrested on charges of felony fraud and drug possession, as well as a misdemeanor count of possessing a new legend drug. Monique Burklow was arrested for drug possession and a misdemeanor count of possessing a new legend drug. The elder Burklows were previously arrested on a combined 14 charges related to alleged money laundering, drug trafficking and racketeering through their family-owned pharmacy. All three were released from Santa Rosa County jail on bond June 23. As of June 24, it does not appear the Office of the State Attorney has publicly filed a case for the new charges of Stephen and Monique Burklow, or the first-time charge against Laikyn Burklow. Stephen "Steve" A. Burklow, 54, and Monique Hunter Burklow, 58, are spouses and the owners of Pace Pharmacy, located at 4880 Woodbine Road. Stephen A. Burklow was licensed as a pharmacist Aug. 3, 1993, according to Florida Department of Health records, and has been an independent pharmacy owner for 20 years, according to his website. He previously owned and operated Burklow Pharmacy, also in Pace. He specializes in compounding, the practice of mixing customer-specific medications in house, and independent retail pharmacy. Stephen Burklow, who acted as a pharmacist, and Monique Burklow, who acted as the pharmacy's office manager, were the subject of a multi-year, multi-agency investigation led by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Arrests came down on the two, as well as second pharmacist David Winkles, in May, with charges including conspiring to traffic prescription drugs including trafficking over 22 kilograms (48 pounds) of oxycodone, over 26 kilograms (57 pounds) of hydrocodone and just shy of one kilogram of hydromorphone. FDLE's investigation began in December 2020, after learning that a local obstetrician-gynecologist, later identified as Dr. Elaine Sharp, was writing an excessive amount of controlled substance prescriptions and recommending her patients fill the prescriptions at Pace Pharmacy. During this same time, FDLE was working jointly with multiple state, local and federal agencies to investigate numerous allegations of a pill mill operation in the area. Agents say the Burklows and Winkles accepted and dispensed illicit prescriptions (including oxycodone, hydromorphone and hydrocodone) outside the course of professional practice and not intended for medical purpose or need. Additionally, Stephen Burklow, through the Pace Pharmacy, allegedly billed multiple insurance companies, using various physicians' National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers without their knowledge or consent to do so, for prescriptions that may or may not have been provided to patients. On June 23, Stephen Burklow was arrested on charges of felony fraud and drug possession, as well as a misdemeanor count of possessing a new legend drug. Monique Burklow was arrested for drug possession and a misdemeanor count of possessing a new legend drug. Beside the newest allegations, Stephen Burklow is also facing 11 felony charges stemming from the FDLE investigation including: Conspiracy to traffic oxycodone Conspiracy to traffic hydrocodone Conspiracy to traffic hydromorphone Conspiracy to commit racketeering Conspiracy to commit money laundering Conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud Five counts of identity theft Monique Burklow is facing charges including: Conspiracy to commit racketeering Conspiracy to commit money laundering Conspiracy to sell controlled substances Along with their criminal charges, both Burklows and Winkles are facing a lawsuit filed by the family of Andrew Strickland, a 47-year-old man who died just days after he filled a prescription written by Sharp, according to Levin Papantonio attorney Peter Mougey. Strickland was found in his room unresponsive in June 2023 roughly 10 days after filling the prescription, and Mougey says Stephen Burklow, Monique Burklow, Winkles and Pace Pharmacy are responsible. "This is a case about accountability," Mougey said. "Pharmacies have a legal and moral duty to act as a line of defense against dangerous prescribing practices. "In this case, that duty was catastrophically breached, and their failure to follow the law and their professional duties cost a man his life," Mougey added. The lawsuit alleges five separate counts related to Strickland's death including: Negligence, gross negligence and reckless conduct of pharmacist Stephen Burklow Negligence, gross negligence and reckless conduct of pharmacist David Winkles Negligence of Pace Pharmacy LLC and vicarious liability for actions of pharmacy staff Negligence of Pace Pharmacy LLC in its independent duties to ensure safe and lawful operations of the pharmacy This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pace Pharmacy, Stephen Burklow, Monique Burklow arrested again
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Foley employees save the day for Art in the Park on Mother's Day weekend
FOLEY, Ala. (WKRG) — What ended up being a beautiful Mother's Day weekend at Foley's annual Art in the Park almost wasn't. 3 arrested, accused of running pill mill at Pace Pharmacy: FDLE Art in the Park is an annual event that features arts and crafts vendors in the John B. Foley Park every Mother's Day weekend. This year, heavy rains hit the area Friday night and Saturday morning, flooding the park and leaving it with nearly 6 inches of standing water in some areas, according to a City of Foley news release. 'A lot of the vendors set up on Friday and they thought they were going to be OK. They had done everything correctly as far as sandbagging and fenders, but it just rained so much Friday night and Saturday morning,' Art Center Executive Director Chloe Salinas said. 80 vendors were slated to set up for the festival, according to the release. Salinas said Foley Parks and Recreation employees, even some who weren't scheduled to work, came in early Saturday and pumped the water out, saving the event. 'Had it not been for them getting in the pumps and getting everything done right away, we would have had to cancel for Saturday,' Salinas said. 'There was just no way we could have done it.' Salinas said only three people had been scheduled for that day, but others came in to help out to get it done faster. Those working to clean up the park for the annual event included Ryan Harrison, Freddy Cuellar, Matthew D'Agati, Joanna Blue, Michelle Gann, Wes McKenzie, Corey Ryan, Vincent Salac and Daniel Seavall. 1 woman continuously leaves sick litters of kittens at A Hope animal welfare in Milton 'They really did a great job and helped make the weekend a success,' Salinas said. 'We would not have been able to do this without them.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
3 arrested, accused of running pill mill at Pace Pharmacy: FDLE
PACE, Fla. (WKRG) — Two pharmacists and a pharmacy office manager are accused of running a pill mill at Pace Pharmacy. Perdido Pass shark sightings: watch According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Pace Pharmacy Pharmacists Stephen Allen Burklow and David Barron Winkles, and Pharmacy Office Manager Monique Burklow were arrested and are accused of conspiring to traffic prescription drugs. An FDLE news release said they trafficked over 22 kilograms or 48 pounds of oxycodone, over 26 kilograms or 57 pounds of hydrocodone and just under one kilogram of hydromorphone. Stephen Burklow and Monique Burklow own Pace Pharmacy, LLC, according to FDLE. 'In our communities, there is no room for criminals that greedily profit from the opioid epidemic by trafficking illicit drugs under the guise of a legitimate pharmacy,' FDLE Pensacola Special Agent in Charge Chris Williams said. 'I am proud of the complex and dedicated work demonstrated by FDLE's agents, crime intelligence analysts and forensic scientists, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office investigators, and the work of all of our partners to get these thugs off our streets.' Stephen, 54, is accused of conspiracy to traffic oxycodone, conspiracy to traffic hydrocodone, conspiracy to traffic hydromorphone, conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and five counts of identity theft. Winkles, 69, is accused of conspiracy to traffic schedule II-controlled substances and conspiracy to commit racketeering. Monique, 58, was arrested on conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to sell controlled substances. The FDLE investigation began in December 2020 when investigators learned Dr. Elaine Sharp, a local obstetrician-gynecologist, was writing an excessive amount of controlled substance prescriptions and recommended her patients to Pace Pharmacy. According to FDLE agents, the Burklows and Winkles accepted and dispensed illicit prescriptions outside of their professional practice and were not intended for medical purposes. 'Mr. Burklow, through the Pace Pharmacy, billed multiple insurance companies, using various physicians' National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers without their knowledge or consent to do so, for prescriptions that may or may not have been provided to patients,' the FDLE release said. The Burklows and Winkles were arrested and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail. This investigation included FDLE, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Financial Services, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security Investigations. Bears visit a Mobile County yard The investigation remains active. Alexa Daly contributed to this story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Owners of Pace Pharmacy arrested on pill mill, drug trafficking allegations
The two owners and an employee of a Pace pharmacy were arrested May 14 on prescription drug trafficking charges, according to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement news release. Pace Pharmacy pharmacists Stephen Allen Burklow and David Barron Winkles, along with pharmacy office manager Monique Burklow, the were the subject of a multi-year, multi-agency investigation led by FDLE. They are charged with conspiring to traffic prescription drugs including trafficking over 22 kilograms (48 pounds) of oxycodone, over 26 kilograms (57 pounds) of hydrocodone and just shy of one kilogram of hydromorphone, according to FDLE. The Burklows are the owners of Pace Pharmacy LLC. FDLE's investigation began in December 2020, after learning that a local obstetrician-gynecologist, later identified as Dr. Elaine Sharp, was writing an excessive amount of controlled substance prescriptions and recommending her patients fill the prescriptions at Pace Pharmacy. During this same time, FDLE was working jointly with multiple state, local and federal agencies to investigate numerous allegations of a pill mill operation in the area. Who is Elaine Sharp? Gulf Breeze doctor allegedly prescribed over 400K oxycodone, laundered over $1M in profits Agents say the Burklows and Winkles accepted and dispensed illicit prescriptions (including oxycodone, hydromorphone and hydrocodone) outside the course of professional practice and not intended for medical purpose or need. Additionally, Stephen Burklow, through the Pace Pharmacy, allegedly billed multiple insurance companies, using various physicians' National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers without their knowledge or consent to do so, for prescriptions that may or may not have been provided to patients. The trio were arrested without incident and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail. Stephen Burklow, 54, of Pace, was arrested on conspiracy to traffic oxycodone, conspiracy to traffic hydrocodone, conspiracy to traffic hydromorphone, conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and five counts of identity theft. Winkles, 69, of Pace, was arrested on conspiracy to traffic schedule II-controlled substances and conspiracy to commit racketeering. Monique Burklow, 58, of Pace, was arrested on conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to sell controlled substances. The investigation was led by FDLE with assistance from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Financial Services, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security Investigations. The cases will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, First Judicial Circuit, and the investigation remains active. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Stephen Burklow Monique Burklow of Pace Pharmacy face pill mill arrest
