Cape man’s arrest tied to prescription medications
A Cape Coral man is accused of visiting multiple doctors within a month and receiving at least $41,000 in prescription medications by concealing the fact that he had seen other physicians.
Joel E. Stoddard Jr., 36, of 1913 N.E. First Place, was arrested and charged Thursday with 18 counts of fraud conceal information to obtain prescription controlled substance. He was released from the Lee County Jail on $27,000 bond Friday, according to the jail booking records.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit had received anonymous information that Stoddard was possibly “doctor shopping,” according to a report. Detectives opened an investigation and received information from pharmacies that Stoddard had obtained medications from several doctors.
Stoddard allegedly received prescriptions for Valium, Methadone, Oxycodone, Roxicodone, MS Contin and Diazepam. According to the report, Roxicodone is the brand name to the generic name of Oxycodone, and Valium is the brand name to the generic name of Diazepam.
Oxycodone is a narcotic used to treat moderate to severe pain. Valium is used in the management of anxiety disorders, and it may be used to relieve muscle pain and to treat agitation, shakiness and hallucinations associated with alcohol withdrawal, the report states.
MS Contin is the brand name of the generic name of morphine sulfate, or the prescription name of morphine. It is used to teat moderate to severe pain.
According to the report, Stoddard visited seven medical offices, from Fort Myers to Lehigh Acres to Pompano Beach, located on the southeast coast of Florida. He received prescription medications but “did not disclose that he had received like medications from other doctors within a 30-day period.”
The total number of pills that Stoddard reportedly received “in excess” by concealing that information, and which was “chargeable” in Lee County, was 3,270 Oxcodone 30 mg pills, 1,200 Oxcodone 15 mg pills, 420 Diazepam 10 mg pills and 120 MS Contin 10 mg pills.
According to the report, the total estimated street value is $41,070.
Stoddard could not be reached for comment Friday.
He has a court date scheduled for Oct. 11.