CRIMES

Houma medical assistant charged with Rx forgery

A Houma woman who worked as a medical assistant at a Thibodaux doctor’s office was arrested Monday in connection with allegations that she issued prescriptions by forging the name of a doctor.

Thibodaux Chief of Police Bryan Zeringue announced said Vickie Ezell, 49, was booked into the Lafourche Parish jail on a charge of “unlawfully prescribing, distributing, dispensing or assisting illegal obtaining of Controlled Dangerous Substance.” At the time of her arrest Ezell had active warrants out of Terrebonne Parish for failing to appear in court and also traffic offenses.

Personnel at the Family Doctor Clinic in Thibodaux confirmed to The Time that Ezell was employed there as a medical assistant.

Acccording to Zeringue, a Houma pharmacy notified a doctor of suspicious prescriptions filled there. The doctor notified Thibodaux police, and their investigation revealed that “multiple” prescriptions had been forged.

Ezell was arrested on a forgery charge in 2005 in Terrebonne Parish. Thibodaux Police spokesman David Melancon confirmed that she had been discharged from employment at a hospital that year but did not have specific information, other than that the discharge was for “similar misconduct.”

On the day the pharmacy contacted the doctor, Ezell left work early, claiming her great-grandmother had died.

“Police learned that this was a lie, and that Ezell fled to another state,” Zeringue said.

Last Tuesday, the Thibodaux Police Department received information that Ezell was back at her residence in Houma.

“Officers were able to make contact, and Ezell came to the Thibodaux Police Department,” Melancon said.

On Monday, Ezell remained jailed in Lafourche in lieu of a $50,600 bond. Her Terrebonne Parish warrants are still pending.

Worker caught with child porn

A 45-year-old Texas native was arrested by Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office after he allegedly confessed to being in possession of child pornography, authorities said.

James Puckett, 45, of Livingston, Texas, was charged last week with pornography involving juveniles after a lengthy investigation yielded his alleged involvement in downloading a pornographic file onto his electronic devices.

The Lafourche Parish’s Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation, as well as the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations.

Last Wednesday, investigators made contact with Puckett at his workplace in Port Fourchon, taking him in for questioning.

During that time, authorities said he admitted to possessing the file, which was later found on his devices.

He was arrested, then released Thursday after posting a $30,000 bond.

Authorities said they are continuing the investigation.

Read more crimes reported by Terrebonne and Lafourche parish authorities online at www.houmatimes.com

Ezell

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