Teaneck Police arrested a New York City man on May 9 after he attempted to fill a fraudulent prescription for a narcotic-based cough medicine at Walgreens Pharmacy on Teaneck Road.

Ramone Acosta, 25, of Manhattan, was charged with forgery, attempting to obtain a controlled dangerous substance by fraud, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute.

He was released after posting $10,000 bail. Acosta’s accomplice Catherine Rodriguez, 28, also of Manhattan, was charged with hindering apprehension and released on her own recognizance.

According to Teaneck Police Detective Lt. Dean Kazinci, Acosta presented a prescription for Tussionex at the pharmacy, telling the pharmacist that he would return in 15 minutes.

When the pharmacist was unable to verify the prescription through the prescribing doctor, he alerted police. The pharmacist’s suspicions were also aroused by the old and poor condition of the prescription form and the non-standard dose.

Teaneck Police immediately dispatched two undercover detectives to the pharmacy. Acosta returned about 30 minutes later. 

"The undercover detectives immediately observed that the suspect was visibly nervous and kept looking around the store before approaching the counter," Kazinci said.

When the pharmacist asked him for identification, Acosta demanded the return of the prescription. He then attempted to leave the store but was stopped by the undercover detectives.

During questioning, Acosta admitted that the prescription was fraudulent and that he had purchased it on the streets of New York City. While Acosta was detained inside the store, detectives checked on his accomplice who was waiting in a car in the parking lot. When they approached the car, the accomplice, later identified as Rodriguez, attempted to hide vials of Tussionex in the vehicle.

Kazinci said that the investigation revealed that Acosta either passed or attempted to pass several other fraudulent prescriptions for Tussionex throughout Bergen County. Additional quantities of Tussionex were recovered from the vehicle.

The case will be referred to the prosecutor for grand jury indictment.

Tussionex Extended-Release Suspension is prescribed for relief of cough and upper respiratory symptoms associated with allergy or a cold in adults and children.  It contains the narcotic hydrocodone that can produce a calm, euphoric state of mind similar to heroin and is known to become a form of addiction.

Although hydrocodone is considered a Schedule II narcotic, Kazinci said that when small amounts are combined with non-narcotic ingredients to create medicines like Tussionex, the resulting product can be classified under Schedule II with fewer restrictions on its use and distribution.