Warren County Pharmacy Responds To Former Pharmacist Arrest

WARREN COUNTY, NJ - The Panther Valley Pharmacy is setting the record straight about their former pharmacist, Anny Chan, who was one of four charged with drug offenses by Attorney General Gurbir Grewal.

"Panther Valley Pharmacy is sad to report that one of our previously employed pharmacists has been implicated in illegal controlled drug distribution during 2018-2019. Prescriptions were filled for illegal(stolen) prescriptions with the pharmacist's alleged knowledge. That pharmacist, Anny Chan, was fired when we were informed in November 2019 by the Attorney General's office," the statement read. "No current employees are implicated and anybody that may have been involved at that time was terminated."

As of December 2019, a new pharmacist-in-charge, Nadear Hassan, and management team, has been in place, the statement noted.

It is alleged, based on prescription records, that more than 30,000 high-dose 30 milligram oxycodone pills – known as “blues” – were illegally diverted from the pharmacy through the criminal scheme.

“Oxycodone has long been the gateway drug for the opioid epidemic, which is claiming so many lives in New Jersey and across the nation,” said Grewal. “We will continue to prosecute the licensed professionals and other criminals who divert these opioid pills into our communities and cause so much addiction, misery and death, either directly through pill overdoses or by leading users to the cheaper and deadlier alternatives of heroin and fentanyl.”

Anny Chan, 51, of Clinton, formerly the registered pharmacist-in-charge at Panther Valley Pharmacy Milagros Santiago, 43, of Haledon, Jonathan Miller, 34, of Whippany, and Siraj Vickers, 39, of Tobyhanna, Pa, have been charged with conspiracy, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance(Oxycodone), and distribution of a CDS (Promethazine).

In addition, Santiago is charged with theft by unlawful taking, and Santiago, Miller and Vickers are charged with falsifying medical records and falsifying or tampering with records, officials said. The arrests were made between Feb. 9 and Feb. 23.

The charges resulted from an investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau, the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs’ Enforcement Bureau, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Tactical Diversion Squad in Newark. The Monmouth County Medical Examiner’s Office also provided critical assistance. In February 2020, Chan entered a consent order with the State Board of Pharmacy to voluntarily surrender her pharmacy license, to be deemed a temporary suspension, pending further action by the Board.

“Prescription drug abuse is a major driver of opioid addiction, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to combat the diversion of these dangerous drugs into our communities,” said Director Veronica Allende of the Division of Criminal Justice.

“We’re fighting the opioid epidemic on all fronts in New Jersey, expanding prevention and treatment strategies while also aggressively targeting pill mills and street-level dealers of heroin and fentanyl,” Grewal said.

Panther Valley Pharmacy ownership said since December, they have successfully conducted a very professional practice.

"We have offered Covid-19 patient protection supplies, when they were hard to get; covid-19 testing ; and await vaccine shipment so we can do our best to help the community during this difficult time," they said. "We ask for your best wishes and forgiveness for events that I and my partners had no idea were taking place."

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