Veronica Watkins

KOSCIUSKO — A Georgia woman who tried to get fraudulent prescriptions filled at the Warsaw Walmart Pharmacy was sentenced to 120 days in the Kosciusko County Jail Monday, March 18, in Kosciusko Circuit Court.

Veronica Watkins, 22, 185 E. Broad St. E., Winder, Ga., pleaded guilty to acquiring a controlled substance by fraud (attempt), a level 6 felony; and resisting law enforcement, a class A misdemeanor. 

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Jan. 29, officers with the Warsaw Police Department were dispatched to Walmart, 2501 Walton Blvd., Warsaw, in reference to a report of a customer attempting to pass fraudulent prescriptions for controlled substances. 

Upon arrival, police were advised by the pharmacist that a female customer had presented two prescriptions for controlled substances. When the pharmacist called to verify the prescriptions with the doctor, the pharmacist was informed that the prescriptions were fraudulent. 

The pharmacist asked the female to return to the pharmacy in fifteen minutes to pick up her prescriptions. Once the female left the store, the pharmacist contacted police. 

Shortly after police arrived, a female matching the description given by the pharmacist made her way toward the pharmacy. Upon seeing an officer in full standard uniform, the female began to run toward the store’s exit. An officer chased the female while yelling, “Stop, police,” but the female continued to run. She was captured in the Walmart parking lot and identified as Watkins. 

Watkins admitted to police that she was involved in a prescription fraud scheme with three other individuals.

Judge Michael Reed ordered Watkins to serve 60 days in the Kosciusko County Jail on each charge, for a total of 120 days; however, Reed ordered that the sentences be served concurrently, meaning at the same time. 

Watkins received 49 days of jail time credit. A remaining charge was dismissed, pursuant to the plea agreement.