Doctor's secretary charged in Lortab ring

Authorities say they have broken up a prescription-drug ring that illegally obtained — and dealt — more than 25,000 pills of the painkiller hydrocodone from American Fork to Layton.

Accused as the ringleader is a 24-year-old woman who once worked as a secretary for a Midvale-area doctor. The U.S. Attorney's Office said Monday that Cathryn Sue Ballard, 24, of Taylorsville, has been charged with prescription fraud and possessing and distributing hydrocodone. She pleaded not guilty in federal court and is scheduled to go on trial June 5.

At the same time, Salt Lake County prosecutors announced criminal charges against 16 people believed to be involved in the prescription-drug ring. As many as 50 people may be involved, Midvale police said Monday. The group is accused of illegally obtaining hydrocodone prescriptions and dealing them along the Wasatch Front.

Hydrocodone, also known as Lortab, is a commonly prescribed painkiller that is growing in popularity for abuse, said Salt Lake District Attorney David Yocom.

"Prescription drugs are fast becoming the drug of preference in this community," he said Monday.

Police first became aware of the alleged drug ring in August 2005, when a Smith's pharmacist telephoned a doctor about a suspicious prescription.

"A young girl — about 20 years old — picked up 26 prescriptions within a year," Midvale police detective Scott Nesbitt said Monday. "The pharmacist called and asked the doctor, who said, 'She's not a patient of mine.'"

Investigators soon focused on Ballard, who was a secretary in the doctor's office. Police believe Ballard would phone in prescriptions to pharmacies all over the Salt Lake Valley using the doctor's Drug Enforcement Administration certification. She would then handle the verifications and arrange for friends and associates to pick up the pills, police said.

The hydrocodone pills were sold, distributed or given back to Ballard, police said. Federal authorities believe Ballard is responsible for as many as 427 prescriptions to 50 people.

"It was fairly well set up," said Nesbitt. "They got away with it for a year and a half. One person told us the pills could get $3-5 apiece on the street."

Mark DeStito, an assistant special agent in charge for the DEA in Salt Lake City, said hydrocodone abuse is increasing among young people and adult professionals.

"It's a very concerning thing, especially among youth," he said. "People who use it recreationally believe it's safer than hard-core drugs."

---

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com