Published: Saturday, September 8, 2012, 12:01 a.m.
Bothell woman gets 2 1/2 years for forged prescriptions
Sign up for HeraldNet Headlines
SEATTLE -- A Bothell woman was sentenced Friday to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for forging prescriptions for painkillers and bilking her employer out of nearly $175,000.
Authorities began investigating a Bellevue dentist after a pharmacist notified federal agents about suspicious prescriptions coming from the man's office.
Federal agents learned that the prescriptions were forged, and the faked documents led to Lori Elizabeth Bowman, 38. The Bothell woman worked for the dentist.
Authorities discovered that Bowman forged more than 200 prescriptions for about 8,500 hydrocodone pills. She used her own name and also used the names of her husband, mother, other relatives and her hairdresser.
Bowman told federal agents she was taking 30 to 35 painkillers a day.
She also was accused of embezzling $174,336. She paid for her children's private school tuition and a family vacation to Las Vegas with the dentist's credit card.
Bowman wreaked havoc on the dentist's professional reputation. She failed to pay licensing, insurance and tax obligations for her employer. He lost his license because of the woman's criminal behavior, prosecutors said.
In addition to prison time, Bowman was ordered to pay back the money she embezzled and do 120 hours of community service.
Authorities began investigating a Bellevue dentist after a pharmacist notified federal agents about suspicious prescriptions coming from the man's office.
Federal agents learned that the prescriptions were forged, and the faked documents led to Lori Elizabeth Bowman, 38. The Bothell woman worked for the dentist.
Authorities discovered that Bowman forged more than 200 prescriptions for about 8,500 hydrocodone pills. She used her own name and also used the names of her husband, mother, other relatives and her hairdresser.
Bowman told federal agents she was taking 30 to 35 painkillers a day.
She also was accused of embezzling $174,336. She paid for her children's private school tuition and a family vacation to Las Vegas with the dentist's credit card.
Bowman wreaked havoc on the dentist's professional reputation. She failed to pay licensing, insurance and tax obligations for her employer. He lost his license because of the woman's criminal behavior, prosecutors said.
In addition to prison time, Bowman was ordered to pay back the money she embezzled and do 120 hours of community service.
Story tags » • Bothell • Punishment • Fraud
Comments
(
