Oxycontin News Blog

MORTON--The latest felony arrest for identity theft has police warning the public to take extra precautions with personal information.

Nancy Gonzalez Lopez, of 268 Butane Rd., Morton, was charged with felony identity theft last week after she used someone else's social security number to establish employment at Koch Foods.

Police were alerted to the theft when Crystal Walker reported that she went to Koch Foods to apply for a job. When Koch Foods personnel entered Walker's social security number in their system, someone else's picture came up.

Police investigated to find that Nancy Gonzalez Lopez was working at Koch under the name Rosa Marie Harrera, Capt. Willie Anderson said.

Capt. Willie Anderson went to Koch Foods to question Nancy Gonzalez Lopez, who admitted she had been using Walker's social security number.

Nancy Gonzalez Lopez, a resident of Mexico, said her uncle, Alvaro Gonzalez, gave her the number. Alvaro Gonzalez is married to Walker's sister.

Because Walker was in prison at the time, Lopez said she thought it would be OK to use Walker's ID. Alvaro Gonzalez and his wife claim that Nancy Gonzalez Lopez stole the ID, Anderson said.

Anderson said identity theft is on the rise in Morton, where social security cards sell for $300 to $400 on the black market. Hispanics looking for employment at local poultry plants are usually involved in the transactions.

"We're seeing more and more of it all the time," Anderson said.

Anderson advised the public to check their credit record a couple of times a year to make sure it includes no outstanding balances that are untrue.

People should also shred or burn any materials that have personal information, including junk mail, he said. Anderson recommends purchasing a cross-section shredder that shreds paper in fine bits.

MORTON-A Raleigh woman was charged with four felony counts of prescription fraud last week in what police called "drug store hopping."

Veronica Burge, 30, of 581 SCR 52, Raleigh, was arrested after employees at D&B Drugs told police that Burge had possibly forged a prescription.

Police asked Burge to come to the police department for questioning and Burge eventually confessed to the crime, said Capt. Willie Anderson.

Burge told police that she found a prescription slip and forged two to three prescriptions. She was successful with two, Anderson said.

Police later learned that Burge also attempted to call in a prescription to Fred's Pharmacy, claiming she was a nurse.

Burge handled workmen's compensation at a previous job and has knowledge of medical matters, Anderson said.

Police found approximately 20 prescription bottles in Burge's car. About 14 of those prescriptions were in Burge's name, Anderson said.

Some of the drugs included OxyContin and Lorisette, as well as other painkillers.

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