Latest news with #StephenBurklow
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Pace Pharmacy owners arrested on new charges in drug trafficking case; daughter also arrested
PACE, Fla. (WKRG) — The owners of Pace Pharmacy, who were previously arrested on racketeering and drug charges, have been arrested again. Immigration enforcement in Gulf Shores leads to more than 30 arrests According to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement news release, Stephen Allen Burklow and Monique Hunter Burklow were arrested Monday on charges of illegal drug possession. Their 22-year-old daughter, Laikyn Noel Burklow, was also arrested and charged with illegal drug possession. On May 14, Stephen and Monique Burklow were arrested on accusations of conspiring to traffic prescription drugs as well as conspiracy to commit racketeering, money laundering, healthcare fraud and identity theft, according to previous reporting. Stephen was a pharmacist, along with David Barron Winkles, who was also arrested and charged with conspiracy to traffic schedule 2-controlled substances and conspiracy to commit racketeering. Monique was the pharmacy's office manager. At that time, an FDLE news release said the pair allegedly trafficked more than 48 pounds of oxycodone, more than 57 pounds of hydrocodone, and just under a kilogram of hydromorphone. With these newest arrests, 54-year-old Stephen is charged with 10 felony counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, five felony counts of identity theft, and 10 misdemeanor counts of drugs without a prescription, the release said. His 58-year-old wife, Monique, is charged with one felony count of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and four misdemeanor counts of possession of drugs without a prescription, according to the release. Laikyn is charged with one count of possession of drugs without a prescription, the release said. Warrants were issued for the three suspects, and they turned themselves in to the Santa Rosa County Jail on Monday. Former Alabama defensive end completes almost four marathons in a day Monday's arrests are linked to the May 14 case, which remains ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- 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
