Florida pharmacy owners Stephen and Monique Burklow, along with their daughter Laikyn, have been arrested in a massive drug trafficking conspiracy that allegedly moved over 48 pounds of oxycodone and 57 pounds of hydrocodone through their family business.
Key Takeaways
- The Burklow family, owners of Pace Pharmacy, turned themselves in on new drug possession charges, expanding an already extensive criminal case against them.
- Stephen Burklow faces 10 felony counts of controlled substance possession, 5 felony counts of identity theft, and 10 misdemeanor drug charges.
- The operation allegedly trafficked massive quantities of prescription opioids: over 48 pounds of oxycodone, 57 pounds of hydrocodone, and nearly 1 kilogram of hydromorphone.
- These new arrests follow previous charges including conspiracy to traffic prescription drugs, racketeering, money laundering, healthcare fraud, and identity theft.
Family-Run Pharmacy Under Criminal Investigation
The Burklow family’s legal troubles continue to mount as Stephen Allen Burklow, a licensed pharmacist, his wife Monique Hunter Burklow, the pharmacy’s office manager, and their daughter Laikyn Noel Burklow were all recently arrested on drug-related charges. “The family turned themselves in following arrest warrants issued as part of an expanding investigation into prescription drug trafficking. Stephen faces the most serious charges with 10 felony counts of possession of controlled substances without prescriptions, 5 felony counts of identity theft, and 10 misdemeanor counts of possessing drugs without prescriptions,”
Monique Burklow has been charged with one felony count of possessing a controlled substance without a prescription and four misdemeanor counts of possessing drugs without prescriptions. Their daughter Laikyn faces one count of possessing drugs without a prescription. These arrests mark a significant expansion of the case, suggesting that law enforcement has uncovered evidence of personal drug use alongside the alleged trafficking operation. “The family remains in custody as authorities continue building their case against what appears to be a family-run criminal enterprise,” said Monique Burklow..
Massive Drug Trafficking Operation Uncovered
“The sheer volume of prescription narcotics allegedly trafficked through Pace Pharmacy is staggering,” according to investigators, the operation moved more than 48 pounds of oxycodone, over 57 pounds of hydrocodone, and nearly 1 kilogram of hydromorphone – quantities that far exceed legitimate pharmaceutical dispensing. These powerful opioids have street values in the millions of dollars and represent thousands of potentially diverted prescriptions. The investigation has revealed a sophisticated operation that likely required coordination with others in the healthcare system to generate fraudulent prescriptions.
This case represents precisely the kind of criminal enterprise that has fueled America’s devastating opioid crisis. While legitimate patients struggle to get appropriate pain medications due to tightened regulations, criminal operations like the one allegedly run by the Burklows exploit the system for massive profits. The involvement of healthcare professionals in diversion networks is particularly disturbing as it undermines the integrity of our medical system and contributes directly to addiction and overdose deaths across communities.
Expanding Criminal Charges
The recent arrests connect to an ongoing investigation that previously resulted in serious charges against the Burklows. In May, Stephen and Monique were charged with conspiracy to traffic prescription drugs, racketeering, money laundering, healthcare fraud, and identity theft. Their business partner and co-owner, pharmacist David Barron Winkles, was also charged with conspiracy to traffic Schedule II controlled substances and racketeering. “The addition of identity theft charges suggests the operation may have involved stealing patient information to create fraudulent prescriptions,” said David Barron Winkles, pharmacist.
The mounting evidence paints a picture of a business designed to exploit vulnerable patients and the healthcare system. By allegedly stealing identities and falsifying prescriptions, the operation not only distributed dangerous narcotics but potentially compromised medical records and committed insurance fraud. The breadth of charges illustrates how prescription drug trafficking operations often involve multiple layers of criminal activity beyond just the distribution of controlled substances, creating a web of financial crimes that can be just as damaging.
