Metro Police were called to Affordable Pharmacy, at 3139 Lebanon Pike, on Tuesday, after a pharmacist received a fake prescription for Promethazine/Codeine, the primary ingredient in ‘sizzurp’, also known as ‘lean’, or ‘purple drank‘, which is the Promethazine/Codeine mixed with a soft drink.
The pharmacist suspected the prescription was fraudulent when it was dropped off by Jose Saenz-Juardo, 23, and called the doctor whose name appeared on the prescription paper, who confirmed it was fraudulent, and Saenz-Juardo was not a patient. While the pharmacist was on the phone with Detective Megan Arnett, Saenz-Juardo had returned to the pharmacy to pick up the prescription, and the officer advised the pharmacist to inform him it wasn’t ready yet, and he waited.
Once Arnett and Detective Williams arrived on scene, they observed Saenz-Juardo inside the pharmacy and made contact with him, at which time he admitted to be waiting for the prescription. He was asked what vehicle in the parking lot he was with, and he advised an orange Hyundai. Detective Williams exited the pharmacy to make contact with two individuals in the vehicle. As he exited the pharmacy, the driver of the vehicle, an unknown black male, got out of the car, fled on foot, and escaped detectives. Abigail Vang, 20, who was in the rear seat of the vehicle, then got into the driver’s seat, drove to the front of the store, and began honking the horn for Saenz-Juardo to come out, not knowing he was already in custody. Saenz-Juardo and Abigail Vang were both taken into custody.
Jose Saenz-Juardo is charged with forgery, identity theft, and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. He posted a $20,000 bond via Free At Last Bonding. Abigail Vang was charged with conspiracy to obtain a controlled substance by fraud, and freed on pre-trial release. Both are scheduled to appear in court in March.
