Venetia Pharmacist Pleads To Multiple Charges

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — A Venetia man has pleaded guilty in federal court to multiple drug charges. According to officials, Timothy Forester, 46, pleaded guilty to three counts before Senior United States District Judge David Cercone. Forester was charged for obtaining controlled substances by fraud, misbranding of drugs and health care fraud conspiracy. Forester was a licensed pharmacist who owned four pharmacies — Century Square Pharmacy in West Mifflin and Prescription Center Plus with locations in South Park, McMurray  and Eighty Four. Forester admitted to knowingly, intentionally and unlawfully obtaining oxycodone and hydrocodone between November of 2018 and February of 2019. He says he did not place those controlled substances into the inventories of the pharmacies and did not create records on how the drugs were administered. Forester also admitted to rebranding generic drugs and selling them for more than its actual value. He finally admitted to filling prescriptions with generic drugs, but charged Medicare and Medicaid for the more expensive name brand substances, committing healthcare fraud at a loss of approximately $680,000. Forester is facing multiple years in prison, depending on his sentencing which is scheduled for February 8th, 2022.