Traffic Stop Leads to Pill Scheme Arrest

A routine traffic stop lead Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies to a Dunedin woman accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of weight loss pills, authorities report.

Ann Marie Peters, 42, of 2205 Curlew Ave, a multiplex in the Resort Lake Estates off of Belcher Road in Dunedin, was pulled over on Spanish Vista Drive, near her residence, around noon June 26 when a Pinellas County Sheriff's patrol deputy noticed she was driving on a suspended license for failing to pay a traffic fine, Pinellas County arrest records show.

Deputies subsequently discovered Peters was accused of taking more than $2,800 in weight loss pills from her former employer Medi-Weight Loss Clinic, 3301 66th Street N in St. Petersburg, arrest records indicate.

Deputies report finding 40 bottles, each containing seven 37.5 mg capsules of phentermine, a prescription appetite suppressant, valued at $2,800.

The find is part of a scheme to defraud that Peters also was charged with, according to investigators.

An audit of Medi-Weight Loss Clinic's computer system conducted for dates starting May 29 to June 7 revealed that 1,500 pills were missing from inventory at a time Peters had sole access to records, arrest records indicate.  

Further investigation revealed that Peters added phentermine doses onto patient records after their prescriptions were issued in order to conceal the pill theft, authorities allege in arrest records.

The audit shows that Peters was the only person documenting amounts in the computer and the only person who had access to the pills between May 29 and June 7.

Peters is charged with a scheme to defraud and grand theft, both felonies, and driving while a license is suspended or revoked, a misdemeanor.

She is in custody and awaiting trail at Pinellas County Jail on at least $10,000 bond.

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