Local pharmacy shut down after undercover drug sting

BELLS, Tenn. — A West Tennessee pharmacy is raided and shutdown after a lengthy undercover investigation. The owners and workers are now behind bars, accused of selling thousands of prescription drugs illegally.

For four months agents from the West Tennessee Violent Crimes and Drug Task Force in conjunction with a number of local, state and federal agencies said they were able to purchase Hydrocodone, Xanax, and even crack cocaine from the Bonifield Pharmacy in Bells.

“We were able to purchase narcotics from the employees without a prescriptions and we were also able to pass some fake prescriptions,” Special Agent in Charge Johnie Carter said.

During the four month sting agents went in undercover, eventually arresting the head pharmacist Dr. Glen Bonifield and three employees, Michelle Nichole Bonifield, Marcia Michelle Barker and Pam Mauldin.

“They need to know that they’re being watched,” Crockett County Sheriff Troy Klyce said. “Just because they’re a pharmacy or even a doctor it doesn’t mean you can do what you want to, there’s rules to be followed.”

Agents are calling this one of the largest prescription drug raids in years, which included 16 weapons and hundreds of thousands of pills seized or found to be unaccounted for.

“All of those at some point hit the streets so this is a huge deal for us,” Sheriff Klyce said. “Besides cocaine, prescription medicine is one of our worst issues.”

Now officials hope others will not abuse, not only the drugs, but their power to distribute them.

“Just because someone may have a license to sell the pill legally, they have to stick with the restraints of those licenses,” Carter said. “They can’t strike out on their own.”

Agents said it may take weeks and even months to process all of the evidence.

“Obviously we’re not at an end we’re just now beginning actually,” Sheriff Klyce said. “I mean the investigators are going to be on this, so I think they’ll discover a lot more.”

Dr. Bonifield voluntarily surrendered his pharmacy license after his arrest. He and the three other employees remain behind bars in the Crockett County Jail. Officials said more state and even federal charges are expected.

Agents said without the community’s help this operation would not have been possible. If you suspect drug activity in your community call the West Tennessee Drug Task Force’s anonymous tip line at (731) 784-0555.