For Immediate Release

March 3, 2016

 
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement,
with assistance from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, arrested four people for trafficking oxycodone in Escambia, Hillsborough and Okaloosa counties.  Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute the case. 

According to the investigation, some of the defendants sponsored patients, scheduling monthly doctor appointments, arranging and paying for patients’ transportation to and from the appointments. Following the office visits, the defendants allegedly purchased the pain killers from the patients to illegally resell the pills.

The following individuals have been arrested in connection to this case:
 
Paul Andre, 48, Destin
Ethel Mae Harvey, 59, Sarasota           
Robert Follman, 56, Tampa
Brian B. Speight , 44, Sarasota (At Large)
 
All four defendants face one count of conspiracy to traffic in oxycodone. If convicted, each defendant faces up to 30 years in prison with a 25 year minimum mandatory sentence. The investigation remains active.
 
John Patrick Piper, 52, of Sarasota, was previously arrested on associated charges and sentenced to seven years in prison.