Arrests made in prescription fraud case

Detective Jason Shaevitz of the Bloomington Police Department had enough evidence to make an arrest Tuesday in a long-term investigation.

Shaevitz is currently investigating several complaints of possible prescription fraud in Bloomington, Sgt. Steve Kellams said.

A pharmacist at Williams Brothers Health Care Pharmacy on Landmark Avenue called police Feb. 14 after receiving a suspicious prescription note from Ben Baker, 33, and Natasha Baker, 27.

The prescription was for methadone, which the doctor who supposedly wrote the prescription does not prescribe, the pharmacist told police. Rather than fill the order, the pharmacist called BPD, Kellams said.

“That’s not the only place we’ve had complaints,” Kellams said. “The investigation is ongoing.”

Ben Baker and Natasha Baker were arrested and questioned for several charges, Kellams said. Both were wanted on warrants from previous, unrelated charges.

Ben Baker was also booked for D-felony prescription fraud and D-felony possessing stolen property because police believe he stole the scripts used to write the allegedly fake prescriptions.

Natasha Baker was booked for D-felony prescription fraud, as well.

Kellams said police continue to look into the case and are not sure they’ve uncovered everything the Bakers have done.

“There may be further charges,” Kellams said.

— Mary Kenney