On July 22, 2021, the Petition for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacist license of Venkata Ramanarao Yarlagadda, Pharmacist License #44977, was granted because the evidence and information indicated that Mr. Yarlagadda was a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• Mr. Yarlagadda continually failed to comply with Board requests and orders, in violation of Agreed Board Order #R-16-004 and Board Order #2021-02898.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the proposed Temporary Suspension Order and suspended Mr. Yarlagadda’s pharmacist license accordingly. The order of suspension remains in effect until superseded by a subsequent order of the Board.

On September 2, 2020, the Petitions for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacy license of Jay’s City Pharmacy, Pharmacy License #6417, and the pharmacist license of John James Kotzur, Pharmacist License #22884, were granted because the evidence and information indicated that they were a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• Jay’s City Pharmacy and Mr. Kotzur failed to operate a pharmacy in a sanitary manner, dispensed prescriptions in a manner inconsistent with the public health and welfare, and failed to implement policies and procedures to ensure that the pharmacy had adequate security, was arranged in an orderly fashion, and was kept clean, in violation of Agreed Board Order #K-18-030-B.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the proposed Temporary Suspension Orders and suspended Respondents’ pharmacy and pharmacist licenses accordingly. The orders of suspension remain in effect until superseded by subsequent orders of the Board.

On August 28, 2019, the Petitions for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacy license of Care RRX Pharmacy, Pharmacy License #31475, and the pharmacist licenses of Ibrahim Zaidan, Pharmacist License #60546, and Gary Lynne Smith, Pharmacist License #20919, were granted because the evidence and information indicated that they were a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• Care RRX Pharmacy, Mr. Zaidan, and Mr. Smith dispensed numerous prescriptions for controlled substances, specifically combinations of hydrocodone/APAP 10/325 mg and carisoprodol 350 mg, that presented red flags indicating the prescriptions lacked a legitimate therapeutic purpose or medical need over a period of approximately seven months.

The Board Disciplinary Panel entered the proposed Temporary Suspension Orders and suspended Respondents’ pharmacy and pharmacist licenses accordingly. The orders of suspension remain in effect until superseded by subsequent orders of the Board.

On August 7, 2019, the Petitions for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacy license of RRX Pharmacy, Pharmacy License #29409, and the pharmacist licenses of Ibrahim Zaidan, Pharmacist License #60546, and Gary Lynne Smith, Pharmacist License #20919, were granted because the evidence and information indicated that they were a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• RRX Pharmacy, Mr. Zaidan, and Mr. Smith dispensed numerous prescriptions for controlled substances, specifically combinations of hydrocodone/APAP 10/325 mg and carisoprodol 350 mg, that presented red flags indicating the prescriptions lacked a legitimate therapeutic purpose or medical need over a period of approximately one year.

The Board Disciplinary Panel entered the proposed Temporary Suspension Orders and suspended Respondents’ pharmacy and pharmacist licenses accordingly. The orders of suspension remain in effect until superseded by subsequent orders of the Board.

On October 30, 2018, the Petitions for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacy license of Palafox Pharmacy, Pharmacy License #27537, and the pharmacist license of Job Ratemo, Pharmacist License #45136, were settled with Agreed Temporary Suspension Orders because the evidence and information indicated they were a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• Emoss Pharmacy and Mr. Ratemo dispensed numerous prescriptions for controlled substances, specifically combinations of hydrocodone/APAP 10/325 mg, oxycodone 30 mg or hydromorphone 8 mg, and alprazolam 2 mg, carisoprodol 350 mg, or promethazine-codeine, that presented red flags indicating the prescriptions lacked a legitimate therapeutic purpose or medical need over a period of approximately one year. They also failed to report prescriptions dispensed for controlled substances to the Texas Prescription Monitoring Program during that period.

The Board Disciplinary Panel entered the proposed Agreed Temporary Suspension Orders suspending Respondents’ pharmacy and pharmacist licenses accordingly. The orders of suspension remain in effect until superseded by subsequent orders of the Board.

On June 28, 2018, the Petitions for Temporary Suspension with Notice of the pharmacy license of Palafox Pharmacy, Pharmacy License #26185, and the pharmacist license of Samuel Ambrosio Gurrola, Pharmacist License #20097, were granted because the evidence and information indicated that they were a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• Palafox Pharmacy and Mr. Gurrola failed to operate a pharmacy in a sanitary manner, dispensed prescriptions in a manner inconsistent with the public health and welfare, and failed to keep and maintain records as required.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the proposed Temporary Suspension Orders and suspended Respondents’ pharmacy and pharmacist licenses accordingly. The orders of suspension remain in effect until superseded by subsequent orders of the Board.

On June 18, 2018, the Petitions for Temporary Suspension without Notice of the pharmacy license of Palafox Pharmacy, Pharmacy License #26185, and the pharmacist license of Samuel Ambrosio Gurrola, Pharmacist License #20097, were granted because the evidence and information indicated that they were a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• Palafox Pharmacy and Mr. Gurrola failed to operate a pharmacy in a sanitary manner, dispensed prescriptions in a manner inconsistent with the public health and welfare, and failed to keep and maintain records as required.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the proposed Temporary Suspension Orders and suspended Respondents’ pharmacy and pharmacist licenses accordingly. The orders of suspension remained in effect for fourteen (14) days or until superseded by subsequent orders of the Board.

On January 19, 2018, the Applications for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacy license of Houston Midtown Pharmacy, Pharmacy License #26529, and the pharmacist licenses of Alfred Leon Wimberley, Pharmacist License #18576, and Eric Christopher Jones, Pharmacist License #34073, were granted because the evidence and information indicated that they were a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• The pharmacy, Mr. Wimberley, and Mr. Jones dispensed numerous prescriptions for controlled substances, specifically combinations of hydrocodone/APAP 10/325 mg or oxycodone 30 mg and alprazolam 2 mg or carisoprodol 350 mg, that presented red flags indicating the prescriptions lacked a valid medical purpose over a period of approximately three months.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the proposed Temporary Suspension Orders and suspended Respondents’ pharmacy and pharmacist licenses accordingly. The orders of suspension remain in effect until superseded by subsequent orders of the Board.

On November 15, 2017, the Applications for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacy license of Friendly Pharmacy, Pharmacy License #26840, and the pharmacist license of Folorunso Oluremi Akinyele, Pharmacist License #39099, were granted because the evidence and information indicated that they were a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• The pharmacy and Mr. Akinyele dispensed numerous prescriptions for controlled substances, specifically combinations of promethazine with codeine and alprazolam or carisoprodol, that presented red flags indicating the prescriptions lacked a valid medical purpose over a period of approximately twelve months.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the proposed Temporary Suspension Orders and suspended Respondents’ pharmacy and pharmacist license accordingly. The orders of suspension remain in effect until superseded by subsequent orders of the Board.

On September 15, 2017, the Applications for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacy license of Health Fit Pharmacy, Pharmacy License #26701, and the pharmacist license of Jeremy Branch, Pharmacist License #52469, were granted because the evidence and information indicated that they were a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• The pharmacy and Mr. Branch dispensed numerous prescriptions for controlled substances, specifically combinations of alprazolam, carisoprodol, and promethazine with codeine, that presented red flags indicating the prescriptions lacked a valid medical purpose over a period of approximately six months.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the proposed Temporary Suspension Orders and suspended Respondents’ pharmacy and pharmacist license accordingly. The orders of suspension remain in effect until superseded by subsequent orders of the Board.

On March 24, 2017, the Applications for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacy license of Houston South Side Pharmacy, Pharmacy License #25215, and the pharmacist license of Frank A. Rollins, Pharmacist License #20688, were granted because the evidence and information indicated that they were a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• The pharmacy and Mr. Rollins dispensed numerous prescriptions for controlled substances, including hydrocodone, alprazolam, carisoprodol, and promethazine with codeine, that presented red flags indicating the prescriptions were nontherapeutic and were prescription forgeries over a period of approximately one year.
• The pharmacy and Mr. Rollins failed to report any dispensing of controlled substances to the state’s prescription drug monitoring program during that same period.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the proposed Temporary Suspension Orders and suspended Respondents’ pharmacy and pharmacist license accordingly. The orders of suspension remain in effect until superseded by subsequent orders of the Board.

On January 20, 2017, the Applications for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacy license of Korner Pharmacy, Pharmacy License #29908, and the pharmacist license of Charlie Bellinger Bethea, Pharmacist License #19238, were granted because the evidence and information indicated that they were a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• The pharmacy and Ms. Bethea dispensed numerous prescriptions for controlled substances, including hydrocodone, that presented red flags indicating the prescriptions were nontherapeutic and were prescription forgeries.
• The pharmacy and Ms. Bethea failed to report dispensing of controlled substances to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the proposed Temporary Suspension Orders and suspended Respondents’ pharmacy and pharmacist licenses accordingly. The orders of suspension remain in effect until superseded by subsequent orders of the Board.

On February 3, 2016, the Application for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacy license of Upshaw Pharmacy, Pharmacy License #28206, was granted because the evidence and information indicated that Upshaw Pharmacy was a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• The pharmacy dispensed numerous prescriptions for controlled substances, including hydrocodone, that presented red flags indicating the prescriptions were nontherapeutic over a period longer than one year.
• The pharmacy continued this conduct despite notification from the Board to cease this type of dispensing on repeated occasions.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the proposed Temporary Suspension Order and suspended Respondent’s pharmacy license accordingly. The order of suspension remains in effect until superseded by subsequent orders of the Board.

On May 26, 2015, the Applications for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacy license of Supreme RX Pharmacy, Pharmacy License #27422, Jesse Cornell Sanders II, Pharmacist License #19454, and Ragan Yvette Webster, Pharmacist License #41192, were granted because the evidence and information indicated that Supreme RX Pharmacy, Mr. Sanders, and Ms. Webster were a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• They dispensed invalid prescriptions, including hundreds issued by one nurse practitioner on October 4, 2014, but filled between October 9, 2014, and March 6, 2015. Controlled substances were dispensed when there was reason to suspect the prescription orders were issued without a valid medical need and outside the practitioner’s standard of practice.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the proposed Temporary Suspension Orders and suspended Respondents’ pharmacy and pharmacist licenses accordingly. The orders of suspension remain in effect until superseded by subsequent orders of the Board.

On May 26, 2015, following a hearing with notice, IVMEDCO Fort Worth, Pharmacy License #13332, was temporarily restricted pursuant to an agreed order of restriction. The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted a proposed Agreed Temporary Suspension or Restriction Order and restricted Respondent’s pharmacy license.

The pharmacy was required to immediately cease all operations related to the preparation and distribution of high-risk sterile compounds, including the maintenance or distribution of previously prepared high-risk sterile compounds, during the period of temporary restriction. The order of restriction remains in effect until an inspection by Board staff lifts the restriction.

On May 12, 2015, the Applications for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacy license of Artemis Pharmacy LLC, Pharmacy License #28030, of Houston, Texas, and the pharmacist license of Taofik Mobolaji Brown, Pharmacist License #51233, of Houston, Texas, were granted because the evidence and information indicated that Artemis Pharmacy LLC and Mr. Brown were a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• They dispensed invalid prescriptions, including hundreds issued by one nurse practitioner on October 4, 2014, but filled between October 15, 2014, and February 16, 2015. Controlled substances were dispensed when there was reason to suspect the prescription drug orders were issued without a valid medical need and outside the practitioner’s standard of practice.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the proposed Temporary Suspension Orders and suspended Respondents’ pharmacy and pharmacist licenses accordingly. The orders of suspension remain in effect until superseded by subsequent orders of the Board.

On May 12, 2015, the Application for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacy license of Supreme RX Pharmacy, Pharmacy License #27422, of Houston, Texas, was granted because the evidence and information indicated that Supreme RX Pharmacy was a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• It dispensed invalid prescriptions, including hundreds issued by one nurse practitioner on October 4, 2014, but filled between October 10, 2014, and March 6, 2015. Controlled substances were dispensed when there was reason to suspect the prescription drug orders were issued without a valid medical need and outside the practitioner’s standard of practice.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the proposed Temporary Suspension Order and suspended Respondent’s pharmacy license accordingly. The order of suspension remains in effect until superseded by a subsequent order of the Board.

On May 12, 2015, the Application for Temporary Suspension or Restriction of the pharmacy license of IVMEDCO Fort Worth, Pharmacy License #13332, of Fort Worth, Texas, was granted because the evidence and information indicated that IVMEDCO was a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• Following a hearing without notice, the pharmacy was temporarily restricted for 14 days or until a further order of the Board for violations of sterile compounding rules identified during a compliance inspection on May 6, 2015. The pharmacy was prohibited from compounding and dispensing high-risk sterile compounded preparations and was required to immediately cease all operations related to the preparation and distribution of high-risk sterile compounds, including previously prepared high-risk sterile compounds.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the proposed Temporary Suspension or Restriction Order and restricted Respondent’s pharmacy license accordingly. The order of restriction remains in effect for 14 days or until superseded by a subsequent order of the Board.

On April 22, 2015, the Applications for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacy license of Rx Max Pharmacy, Pharmacy License #27883, of Houston, Texas, the pharmacist license of Shlonda Fay Williams, Pharmacist License #47063, of Houston, Texas, and the pharmacist license of Chukwuma U. Anyanwu, Pharmacist License #52885, of Katy, Texas, were granted because the evidence and information indicated that Rx Max Pharmacy, Ms. Williams, and Mr. Anyanwu were a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• They dispensed invalid prescriptions, including hundreds issued by one nurse practitioner on October 4, 2014, but filled between October 4, 2014, and March 6, 2015. Controlled substances were dispensed when there was reason to suspect the prescription drug orders were issued without a valid medical need and outside the practitioner’s standard of practice.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the proposed Temporary Suspension Orders and suspended Respondents’ pharmacy and pharmacist licenses accordingly.

On July 11, 2014, a temporary suspension hearing with notice was held regarding the Applications for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacy license of Meg’s Discount Pharmacy (#26789) and the pharmacist license of Susan Jenevive Megwa (#47344). The applications were granted because the evidence and information indicated that the operation of Meg’s Discount Pharmacy and the pharmacy practice of Ms. Megwa posed a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• The delivery of hydrocodone and alprazolam to an informant without prescriptions.
• Non-therapeutic dispensing of hydrocodone to three patients.
• Audit shortages of hydrocodone and alprazolam.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the proposed Temporary Suspension Orders, and the licenses were suspended accordingly.

On April 29, 2014, the Applications for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacy license of Pill Box, Pharmacy License #2472, of Dumas, Texas, the pharmacist license of S. Ray Johnson, Pharmacist License #16082, of Dumas, Texas, and the pharmacist license of Carol M. Johnson, Pharmacist License #16435, were granted because the evidence and information indicated that Pill Box, Mr. Johnson, and Ms. Johnson were a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• Mr. and Ms. Johnson were the owners and only pharmacist employees of the pharmacy.
• Mr. Johnson continued to perform pharmacist duties with a suspended license at the pharmacy.
• Mr. and Ms. Johnson’s actions demonstrated a lack of regard for Texas pharmacy law and Texas Pharmacy Board Rules.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the proposed Temporary Suspension Orders and suspended Respondents’ pharmacist licenses and pharmacy license accordingly.

On April 29, 2014, the Application for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacy license of A&I Pharmacy, LLC, was granted because the evidence and information indicated that A&I Pharmacy was a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• The pharmacy had ceased engaging in the business described in the application for a pharmacy license for 30 days or longer.
• Because the pharmacy was not engaging in the sole purpose for which the license was issued, allowing it to continue to hold a license to operate constituted a continuing threat to the public welfare.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the proposed Temporary Suspension Order and suspended Respondent’s pharmacy license accordingly.

On March 4, 2013, the Applications for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacy license of Express RX Pharmacy, Pharmacy License #27759, of Denton, Texas, and the pharmacist license of Esther Chinedozi Amaka, Pharmacist License #39677, of Arlington, Texas, were granted because the evidence and information indicated that Express RX Pharmacy and Ms. Amaka were a continuing threat to the public welfare.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the Agreed Temporary Suspension Orders and suspended Express RX Pharmacy’s pharmacy license and Ms. Amaka’s pharmacist license accordingly. The suspensions were based on evidence that Respondents failed to operate the pharmacy at its licensed location, stored controlled substances and dangerous drugs at a location other than the licensed pharmacy, purchased and dispensed controlled substances and dangerous drugs after the closure of the pharmacy, conducted pharmacy operations from Ms. Amaka’s home after the closure of the pharmacy, and had audit shortages of controlled substances.

The orders of suspension remain in effect until superseded by subsequent orders of the Board.

On December 12, 2012, the Applications for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacy license of Medicine Shoppe, Pharmacy License #17595, of Houston, and the pharmacist license of Esther H. Cohen, Pharmacist License #22159, of Houston, Texas, were granted because the evidence and information indicated that Medicine Shoppe and Ms. Cohen were a continuing threat to the public welfare.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the proposed Agreed Temporary Suspension Orders and suspended Medicine Shoppe’s pharmacy license and Esther H. Cohen’s pharmacist license accordingly. The suspension was based on evidence that Ms. Cohen, as owner and pharmacist-in-charge of the Medicine Shoppe, allowed a pharmacy technician to operate the pharmacy with no pharmacist present and to dispense and deliver prescriptions while no pharmacist was present at the pharmacy.

The orders of suspension remain in effect until superseded by subsequent orders of the Board.

Board temporarily suspends pharmacist license of Richard Demond Broussard

On November 26, 2012, the Application for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacist license of Richard Demond Broussard, Pharmacist License #39584, of Dallas, was granted because the evidence and information indicated that the Respondent was a continuing threat to the public welfare.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the staff’s proposed Temporary Suspension Order and suspended Respondent’s pharmacist license accordingly. The order of suspension remains in effect until superseded by a subsequent order of the Board.

Records on file at TSBP are available under the Texas Public Information Act, except records relating to an impaired pharmacist, which are confidential under §§564.002 and 564.003 of the Texas Pharmacy Act.

On January 26, 2012, the Applications for Temporary Suspension of the pharmacy license of Jovic Pharmacy, Inc., Pharmacy License #26402, of Humble, Texas, and the pharmacist license of Joy A. Abolo, Pharmacist License #41322, of Humble, Texas, were granted because the evidence and information indicated that Jovic Pharmacy and Ms. Abolo were a continuing threat to the public welfare based on the following:

• Ms. Abolo was the owner and pharmacist-in-charge of the pharmacy.
• Ms. Abolo dispensed controlled substances at the pharmacy over a period of approximately seventeen months pursuant to approximately 14,000 prescriptions she knew or should have known were invalid. The prescriptions were issued from various pain management clinics by various physicians, or by mid-level practitioners acting under a physician’s supervision, for hydrocodone, carisoprodol, and/or alprazolam for the purported treatment of pain and/or anxiety.

The Board Disciplinary Panel adopted the proposed Temporary Suspension Orders and suspended Respondents’ pharmacist and pharmacy licenses accordingly. The orders of suspension remain in effect until superseded by subsequent orders of the Board.