Grosse Pointe Pharmacist Charged With Filling Fraudulent Prescriptions For Controlled Substances

DETROIT - A grand jury indictment was unsealed today charging a pharmacist with unlawful distribution of prescription drug controlled substances, conspiracy, and unlawfully maintaining a drug-involved premises, Acting United States Attorney Saima Mohsin announced. 

Mohsin was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin, Drug Enforcement Administration, Detroit Division.

Charged was Hasna Bashir Iwas, age 60, of New Baltimore, Michigan.  Iwas is the owner and operator of Beacon Pointe Pharmacy in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. 

The Superseding Indictment adds the defendant to earlier indictments that charged Dr. Otis Crawford and three other defendants with operating a prescription drug ring in Detroit, Grosse Pointe Park, River Rouge and elsewhere.  Dr. Crawford pled guilty to charges in the earlier indictment but died from natural causes before he could be sentenced. 

This indictment alleges that pharmacist Iwas filled hundreds of fraudulent prescriptions issued from Dr. Crawford’s clinic such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, Xanax and promethazine with codeine syrup.  Dr. Crawford’s prescriptions alone had an estimated street value of over $2 million.  In addition, it is alleged she filled over 600 forged prescriptions under the names of various doctors for a forgery ring operating in Detroit, charging cash to fill the fake prescriptions even when the “patient” had insurance.  Pharmacist Iwas insisted that she always required the patient to be present to fill their controlled substance prescription and denied filling multiple prescriptions for a “runner” presenting a group of forged prescriptions.  But one of the forged prescriptions charged in the superseding indictment was filled the day after the “patient” was murdered. 

“We will continue to hold accountable healthcare professionals who seek to enrich themselves by illegally distributing controlled substances,” stated Acting US Attorney Mohsin.  “Our commitment to combatting the opioid crisis is unwavering.”

“Dispensing controlled substances is a privilege that requires abiding by the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Martin.  “DEA is committed to ensuring that those who have pledged to follow our nation’s drug laws are living up to that responsibility.”

The defendant is scheduled for her initial appearance in federal court on these charges on October 1, 2021.   

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Wayne F. Pratt.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.