Bayonne pharmacy tech charged with stealing prescription drugs, police say

BAYONNE After receiving a tip earlier in the day, Bayonne police arrested Friday a town resident and pharmacy technician who admitted to stealing more than 2,000 Oxycontin pills over a six-month period, officials said today.

Mena Mekhael, 21, of Lord Avenue, was arrested as he was leaving the Jerry's Drug & Surgical Supply at 455 Broadway near West 21st Street, at 6:45 p.m. Friday, police said.

He was hit with a slew of drug charges, including theft of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), possession of CDS Oxycontin, possession of CDS Xanax, possession of CDS with intent to distribute, and possession of marijuana under 50 grams, police said.

The store's head pharmacist reported to police Friday morning that 2,119 Oxycontin pills were missing from the pharmacy's inventory, Bayonne Acting Police Chief Ralph Scianni said.

When police arrested Mekhael he was carrying 20 Oxycontin pills and 17 Xanax pills in his pockets, Scianni said, adding that a search of Mekhael's car turned up six more Oxycontin pills and four more Xanax pills, as well as a bag of marijuana.

During questioning, Mekhael admitted to stealing over 2,000 pills since he started working at the pharmacy in December and using the profits to buy marijuana, Scianni said.

The stolen pills had an estimated street value of about $62,000, Scianni said, adding that Mekhael changed and forged computer records in the store using the head pharmacist's login to cover his tracks during his thefts.

Mekhael was also charged with two counts of possession of CDSs within 500 feet of public housing complexes, forgery, and criminal activity related to a computer, police said.

Bayonne police seized Mekhael's pharmacy license upon his arrest, and the investigation is still ongoing, Scianni said.

Mekhael is being held at Hudson County jail on $50,000 bail and is expected to make his first appearance on the charges at Central Judicial Processing court in Jersey City tomorrow, officials said.

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Bayonne pharmacy tech charged with stealing prescription drugs, police say