3 arrested, accused of running pill mill at Pace Pharmacy: FDLE
PACE, Fla. (WKRG) — Two pharmacists and a pharmacy office manager are accused of running a pill mill at Pace Pharmacy.
Perdido Pass shark sightings: watch
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Pace Pharmacy Pharmacists Stephen Allen Burklow and David Barron Winkles, and Pharmacy Office Manager Monique Burklow were arrested and are accused of conspiring to traffic prescription drugs.
An FDLE news release said they trafficked over 22 kilograms or 48 pounds of oxycodone, over 26 kilograms or 57 pounds of hydrocodone and just under one kilogram of hydromorphone.
Stephen Burklow and Monique Burklow own Pace Pharmacy, LLC, according to FDLE.
'In our communities, there is no room for criminals that greedily profit from the opioid epidemic by trafficking illicit drugs under the guise of a legitimate pharmacy,' FDLE Pensacola Special Agent in Charge Chris Williams said. 'I am proud of the complex and dedicated work demonstrated by FDLE's agents, crime intelligence analysts and forensic scientists, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office investigators, and the work of all of our partners to get these thugs off our streets.'
Stephen, 54, is accused of conspiracy to traffic oxycodone, conspiracy to traffic hydrocodone, conspiracy to traffic hydromorphone, conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and five counts of identity theft.
Winkles, 69, is accused of conspiracy to traffic schedule II-controlled substances and conspiracy to commit racketeering.
Monique, 58, was arrested on conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to sell controlled substances.
The FDLE investigation began in December 2020 when investigators learned Dr. Elaine Sharp, a local obstetrician-gynecologist, was writing an excessive amount of controlled substance prescriptions and recommended her patients to Pace Pharmacy.
According to FDLE agents, the Burklows and Winkles accepted and dispensed illicit prescriptions outside of their professional practice and were not intended for medical purposes.
'Mr. Burklow, through the Pace Pharmacy, billed multiple insurance companies, using various physicians' National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers without their knowledge or consent to do so, for prescriptions that may or may not have been provided to patients,' the FDLE release said.
The Burklows and Winkles were arrested and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail.
This investigation included FDLE, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Financial Services, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Bears visit a Mobile County yard
The investigation remains active.
Alexa Daly contributed to this story.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
37 minutes ago
- CBS News
FDLE investigating Pembroke Pines Commissioner Jay Schwartz
Pembroke Pines City Commissioner Jay Schwartz is under investigation for allegedly representing himself as a law enforcement officer, confronting a group of students at a local high school, and allegedly attempting to search them, CBS News Miami has learned. The interaction between Schwartz and the students took place on the morning of May 21, near the end of the school year, at Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines, where Schwartz, a pilot, is a visiting instructor teaching a class on aviation. The alleged episode is now being investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Pembroke Pines Police Chief Jose Vargas said he personally contacted FDLE to take over the investigation to avoid a potential conflict because it involved an elected city official. "We verified the initial information and once we determined the allegation had some merit, I contacted FDLE," Vargas told CBS News Miami. "I made the decision to refer it to FDLE." City Manager Charles Dodge said the police chief contacted him the day it happened, as well. "When he spoke to me that this incident occurred, he told me this was going to be handled by FDLE," Dodge said. "There was no delay in reporting it. And I believe FDLE started on it right away." In response to a request for comment, a spokesman at FDLE wrote: "FDLE does not confirm, deny, or comment on investigations or inquiries received by FDLE." Schwartz, who has been a city commissioner since 2012, did not respond to phone calls, voicemail messages, and text messages seeking comment. According to a source familiar with the incident, Schwartz allegedly confronted at least three students on school grounds and attempted to search them, believing they may be in possession of contraband, possibly marijuana. During the confrontation, Schwartz allegedly showed the teens a ceremonial badge he had been given as a city commissioner. Although the badge looks like an official police badge, it is not a police badge, and Schwartz has no law enforcement powers. However, at that moment, there would be no way for the students to know the badge wasn't real. Police and city officials refuse to describe the precise details of the encounter between Schwartz and the students, and there are conflicting reports as to whether Schwartz searched the teens. The interaction caused enough concern, however, that it was brought to the attention of the school's principal. A Pembroke Pines police officer, assigned to the school, conducted a preliminary investigation and wrote a report. CBS Miami requested a copy of the report last week from Pembroke Pines. The city attorney told CBS Miami Saturday he would review the report next week and determine if it can be released under the state's public records law. CBS News has also learned there were video cameras on school grounds that would have captured the interaction between Schwartz and the students. It is not clear if the Pembroke Pines police officer at the school reviewed the video or if it has been sent to the FDLE. Broward Schools response School district officials stressed Schwartz is not a district employee but taught an aviation class at the school as part of the school's partnership with Broward College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where Schwartz is listed as an adjunct faculty member. And because the incident occurred near the end of the school year, Schwartz was allowed to return to the school the following week to administer the class's final exam – but only with a district employee monitoring his activities with students. "Regarding the incident at Charles Flanagan High School, the individual in question is not a Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) employee but a visiting instructor affiliated with the school's avionics program," wrote John Sullivan, Chief Communications Officer for the school district in a statement to CBS Miami. "After the incident towards the end of the school year, the individual's interaction with students was limited and supervised." The badge It is not uncommon for local elected officials in South Florida to carry police-style badges. The badges have no power and are designed more to boost the ego of elected officials and make them feel special. Pembroke Pines Police Chief Vargas said over the years, the department has issued these types of badges to any commissioner that asks for them. "Some of them request them," Vargas said. "They say `Commissioner' on them." Schwartz has been a controversial figure in Pembroke Pines since his election to the commission in 2012. In 2018, the Miramar Pembroke Pines Regional Chamber of Commerce accused him of threatening to blackmail a member of the chamber if he did not get his way on an item before the chamber. "Commissioner Schwartz's actions are at least bullying, and he quite possibly has even used his position of power to coerce the Chamber, the Board of Directors, and its members," wrote the then chair of the chamber's board of directors. In 2024, during a city commission meeting, the mayor summoned police to remove Schwartz from the dais after the mayor said he had become disruptive. On his city website, Schwartz describes himself as a pilot, a business executive, an entrepreneur and a YouTuber. Describing his role as an elected official, Schwartz wrote: "The responsibility and trust you have given me I take very seriously. I want to be a great public servant. Your concerns are my concerns, and I will work tirelessly through positive and bold action to bring you the leadership we deserve."
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Florida middle school teacher allegedly used real student photos to create AI-generated porn: FDLE
HOLLY HILL, Fla. - A middle school teacher in Central Florida was arrested Thursday on 19 charges related to child sex abuse material and animal sexual abuse. He's accused of downloading and sharing child pornography on Discord, including potentially using students' photos to create AI-generated pornography. What we know David McKeown, a sixth-grade teacher at UBIC Academy, was arrested Thursday at his home in Volusia County, both FDLE and Florida AG's Office said. Detectives alleged that McKeown shared and downloaded pornographic images depicting child porn and animal abuse via Discord while at school – and connected to the school's WiFi network, both agencies said. He allegedly shared nearly 30 images. Authorities believe McKeown used AI technology to create these pornographic images, and may have used photos of real children. The investigation was launched on June 2 after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Detectives seized a number of devices from his home in Holly Hill and from the school. He was booked into the Volusia County jail and a judge denied him the possibility of bond. If convicted, he faces up to 315 years in prison, officials said. What they're saying "As a teacher, parents trusted Mr. McKeown to impart knowledge to their children. Instead, he spent parts of the school day sending and receiving child sex abuse material and providing other pedophiles with UBIC Academy students' personal information. "What he did is beyond betrayal—it's devastating and sick. Our Office of Statewide Prosecution will aggressively pursue justice for these children and their parents," said Attorney General James Uthmeier. "This arrest is deeply disturbing," said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass in a statement.. "Not only was this individual trafficking in vile material but he was doing it on school grounds, during school hours surrounded by children. At FDLE, we will never allow predators to hide behind screens or school walls. We will track them down, expose them and bring them to justice." What you can do Law enforcement said additional charges are possible and that the investigation is ongoing. Anyone who thinks they may be a victim is asked to contact the Holly Hill Police Department's Victim Advocate Coordinator. The Source Both the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Attorney General's Office announced the arrest on Thursday, June 20. The information comes from the news releases shared by both agencies.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Amber Alert issued for missing Florida boy
The Brief An Amber Alert was issued for a missing Miami boy. He may be in the company of Ismari Figueroa Leon. Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call 911 immediately. MIAMI, Fla. - An Amber Alert for a missing 6-year-old Miami boy. Law enforcement officials are searching for Ryan Figueroa who was last seen in the area of the 1300 block of Southwest 1st Street in Miami. He was last seen wearing a white Polo shirt and black joggers. Officials say he may be in the company of Ismari Figueroa Leon, who was last seen wearing a black jumper. She also has multiple tattoos. The pair may be traveling in a 2012 black Chevy Equinox with Florida tag number RUZG29. What you can do Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call 911 immediately. Tips can also be reported to FDLE at 1-888-356-4774 (1-888-FL-MISSING) or your local law enforcement agency. The Source This story was written with information provided by the FDLE. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter Follow FOX 13 on YouTube
