Pharmacist arrested on prescription fraud charges

A North Tonawanda pharmacist is facing federal fraud charges, accused of creating fake patient accounts in order to dispense dozens of prescriptions for himself. 

Patrick McQuade, 29, is charged with possession of a controlled substance by fraud. According to federal prosecutors, McQuade created fictitious patient accounts while working at Rite Aid Pharmacy. He used those accounts to create fraudulent prescriptions with Rite Aid's inventory system, then dispensed the drugs for himself, investigators said.

McQuade created 20 fake patient profiles and 47 fraudulent prescriptions to dispense 1,874 dosage units of Alprazolam, Phentermine, Cialis and Synjardy, according to the federal complaint.  

McQuade worked as a pharmacist for Rite Aid from January 2015 until he was fired in December 2017. He is currently employed as a pharmacist at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. 

A spokesperson for the medical center said McQuade has been suspended pending the outcome of an internal investigation. He said there is no evidence right now that McQuade engaged in any wrongdoing while employed by Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. 

McCQuade faces up to four years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.