NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Farm Fresh has agreed to a $1 million settlement stemming from allegations of record-keeping violations by its pharmacies.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Farm Fresh pharmacies violated the Controlled Substances Act in multiple ways between Sept. 9, 2014 and Sept. 21, 2016.
Farm Fresh operated 34 pharmacies — mostly in the Norfolk area — that were all registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration. This allowed the pharmacies to maintain and distribute controlled substances, including opioids.
According to prosecutors, Farm Fresh pharmacies failed to record how many controlled substances were shipped and received, and when.
The alleged violations also included failing to timely notify the DEA of theft losses.
This all happened despite several pharmacies receiving letters from the DEA warning them for failing to maintain records, prosecutors said.
“The abuse of prescription drugs is one of the most alarming and critical issues we face today,” G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said in a statement. “To combat this problem, it is crucial that those who dispense controlled substances comply with record-keeping requirements.”
