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« Clerk: Stroke shouldn't affect Judge Lageuex' caseload | Today | Attleboro man charged with assault, intent to murder » May 6, 2008Update: State shuts pharmacy after owner chargedThe state Department of Health has shut down Prime Drug Pharmacy in Providence, whose owner is one of two elderly men charged in federal court today with multiple counts of illegally distributing pain killers and expensive HIV drugs. "Because of the potential impact on public health," a health department news release says, Dr. David R. Gifford, the state health director, today issued suspensions for three pharmacy employees: Domenic Colarusso, pharmacist in charge; Carmine A. DeTomasis, pharmacist; and, Carmine D. DeTomasis, pharmacy technician. A summary suspension was also issued for the pharmacy's license, closing it. The pharmacy is located at 613 Cranston St. in the city’s West End. “We have no way of knowing that prescription medications coming from Prime Drug are the correct, prescribed dosage, that they have not expired, or that they have been kept at safe temperatures," Gifford's statement said. Gifford said pharmacy customers should not take any prescription drugs they have from the pharmacy, even if they look safe. The state Department of Health has posted information, in English and Spanish, for patients at the pharmacy’s location at www.health.ri.gov. There are also information line staff available to answer additional questions, in English and Spanish, at 1-800-942-7434 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. DeTomasis, 73, a licensed pharmacist and co-owner of the pharmacy, and Louis Romanelli, 81, of Victoria Street, in Providence, were each charged with distribution of controlled substances, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to commit health care fraud and distributing misbranded drugs. -- With reports from Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski Adi Goldstein, an assistant U.S. Attorney, said that an undercover agent from the federal Food and Drug Administration sold Oxycodone, Hydrocodone and drugs to combat HIV to Romanelli on several occasions over the past year. In turn, she said, Romanelli sold the drugs to DeTomasis, who peddled them to his customers. Goldstein told the court that the HIV drugs alone were sold to Romanelli for $16,000. The meetings between Romanelli and the undercover agent were recorded on video and audiotape, she said. Federal and state investigators raided the drug store last night. Posted by Mike McKinney CommentsSpell Check Anyone? | May 6, 2008 4:44 PM link As a rule, pharmacists are the most responsible and honest people around. These folks have disgraced themselves and brought shame on their colleagues. Too bad. Matt | May 6, 2008 6:25 PM link Puhllleeezzee. This pharmacy has been doing shady deals for a very long time. When I was a pharma rep back in the 80's they were buying pharmaceutical drug reps samples from their cars until that was cracked down. As a new rep, I was warned about them by my manager of their past dealings. It was only a matter of time they would be exposed and it finally happened. They rank up their with Dr. Wally Gonsalves, etc. etc. oinka | May 7, 2008 2:57 AM link Amen. This has been aggravatin me for lots of tyme. Their isn't a day gose by that their isn't mispeled werds and gramitical erers. Get the picture editors/reporters????? Use spell check and then proof your article before hitting print send. Joy | May 7, 2008 6:11 AM link This pharmacy has been around for half a century. ..it is not some fly-by-night operation...I'm am outraged at how the media and government are disbaraging this established and well-respected pharmacy by using their terror tactics on the public. The safety of the prescriptions are being questioned? Please! These old men are pharmacists, and have been practicing longer than most of us have been alive. What it really boils down to is that the FDA (which is a privately-owned corporation by the way) is bitter that an inkling of their profits were taken away. How many of THEIR drugs have killed people?!? I believe the community needs to stand up in support of this establishment...which has done so much for so many throughout its 50+ years on Cranston St. giaso | May 7, 2008 6:55 AM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
Come on people! Since when is "suspensions" spelled "suspentions?"
Projo, Woonsocket Call, and Channel 10's websites are full of misspelled words and grammatical errors. It's very simple to proofread articles before posting or printing them. Please take the time to do this in the future.
If you aren't even capable of spelling, why should I have any faith in the actual news you are reporting???