Investigators allege that eight people procured dozens of forged painkiller prescriptions, filled them at several area pharmacies and sold the pills to drug dealers and users from at least Sept. 1 to Nov. 25, 2014, the day Pappert and her boyfriend were arrested.
The Valley Forge Elementary School science teacher, who school officials said is on paid administrative leave, is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 14 by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Rose. The maximum penalties for the offense is 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
Defense attorney Jon Paul Rion said the non-binding sentencing range for Pappert is from 18 to 24 months in prison, but that there could be a downward departure from that range. Rose ordered a pre-sentence investigation for Pappert, who is free on bond.
“We will be asking the court at that time for a sentence of probation,” Rion said. “We believe that sentence is warranted given Ms. Pappert’s limited role in this situation. Frankly, we believe that she was taken advantage of by others and, I think, the facts, when they come out, will reflect that clearly.”
Assistant U.S. attorney Dwight Keller said Pappert is the second person to plead guilty after an Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission task force launched an investigation last year. Pappert’s boyfriend at the time of her arrest, Christian P. Fannon, 34, pleaded guilty May 8 to three counts and is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 28.
A federal complaint alleged that Fannon told an informant that he could produce counterfeit paper prescriptions and that Pappert assisted by providing paper and helping Fannon draft and print the prescriptions at their residences and a public library.
The complaint said Fannon wanted to sell the fake prescriptions for $100 to $125. It also said Fannon and Pappert would use some of the narcotics obtained and sell the rest to dealers for about $350 per bottle.
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office announced earlier this week that six others will face federal charges related to the drug-selling conspiracy: Sandy E. Bryson, 51; Elaina M. Morocho, 33; Mandy L.E. McGee, 37; Sean A. Ring, 34; Dustin M. Crouch, 26; and Candice P. Crouch, 20. All six were scheduled to make appearances this week in federal court.
The investigation was part of “Operation Safety Net,” according to Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, whose office said the defendants also were accused of illegal acquisition or use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, wire fraud and health care fraud.
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