ROCK HILL, NY — The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office has charged two men who used fraudulent prescriptions to illegally obtain hundreds of Oxycodone pills over the past several months. Richard Hand, 25, of Hurleyville and Arnold Palmer, 34, of Jamaica, NY were arrested on March 13, at the Rock Hill Pharmacy in the Town of Thompson.

Deputies say the pair had used forged prescriptions purportedly written by a doctor from the Bronx Lebanon Hospital in New York City. The investigation revealed that Hand and Palmer had filled prescriptions for Oxycodone four times starting in January. “Each prescription was for 180 pills,” said Sheriff Mike Schiff. “The amount was clearly excessive.” Schiff said that pharmacies all over Sullivan County are assisting law enforcement by being on the alert for potential prescription drug abuse. Many will no longer accept cash as payment for Oxycodone or similar pain medication.

Hand and Palmer were each charged with felony possession of a forged instrument and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance. They were arraigned before Town of Thompson Judge Marty Miller and sent to the Sullivan County Jail. Hand was being held on $7,500 bail and Palmer had no bail. Both men were to appear in court Monday, March 17, at 5 p.m.