Whitley County Woman Admits Involvement In Scheme To Steal Prescription Drugs From Pharmacy And Distribute Them

LONDON, KY - The final member of a scheme to steal prescription pills, from a Whitley County, KY., pharmacy, and provide the pills to area drug dealers has pled guilty to federal charges.

Lora Cupp, 35, of Rockholds, KY., pled guilty on Thursday to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

Cupp admitted that from October 2011 to February 22, 2012, she conspired with her son, Jordan Chute, 21, and his wife at the time, Breanna Rhoades, 24, to steal approximately 6,000 oxycodone pills from Whitley Family Pharmacy.

According to court documents, Rhoades worked as a pharmacy technician and stole between 100 and 200 oxycodone pills a week. Chute assisted Rhoades in transferring the stolen pills to Cupp, who ultimately provided the pills to drug dealers in Whitley County.

Rhoades and Chute previously pled guilty to the conspiracy charge.

Kerry B. Harvey, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Robert L. Corso, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration jointly announced the plea today.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA, Kentucky Board of Pharmacy, London Police Department and the Williamsburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen C. Smith prosecuted this case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office on behalf of the federal government.

Cupp will appear in U.S. District Court for sentencing, on June 5, 2014. Chute is scheduled to be sentenced on February 20, 2014 and Rhoades is scheduled to be sentenced on May 15, 2014. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years.