Onaway man allegedly used dead brother?s ID to get drugs

A spin-off investigation of the recent ?On Away to Jail? operation, which was conducted by the Huron Undercover Narcotics Team (HUNT) on March 26 in Presque Isle County, has resulted in additional charges being filed against on one of the nine suspects arrested during the sweep.

According to HUNT Commander, D/Lt. Rick M. Schultz, Todd Perkins, 38, of Onaway was arrested by the Michigan State Police 7th District Fugitive Team on the strength of a five-count felony warrant Wednesday after the warrant was issued by the 86th District Court in Grand Traverse County. He was video arraigned Thursday morning in Traverse City.

Pursuant to an investigation involving the sale of prescription drugs (Schedule II ? Methadone) by the defendant, HUNT detectives discovered he was using the identity of his deceased brother to procure a controlled substance.

During the course of this investigation, HUNT detectives discovered the defendant used the identity of his dead brother more than 25 times in a two-year period to obtain prescriptions for methadone from a Traverse City area doctor.

THE INVESTIGATION also revealed that the defendant used this fictitious identity when he was arrested in Florida, and actually served prison time under the alias for convictions involving narcotics and property crimes

, Schultz said.

Upon reviewing the investigation, the Grand Traverse County prosecutor?s office authorized a five-count felony warrant, charging the defendant with one count of Identity Theft, three counts of Obtaining a Controlled Substances by Fraud, and a single count of Habitual Offender 2nd Offense Notice.

?Identity theft is not just limited to those crimes associated with financial fraud. It is frequently used to divert controlled substances from legitimate sources for non-medical uses. It is a serious problem and we are committed to investigating and jailing those involved,? Schultz said.

Perkins already wis facing charges in Presque Isle County for allegedly dealing methadone in the Onaway area. He is charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance ? schedule II (20 year felony), maintaining a drug house, as well as habitual offender second offense. The defendant is currently being held in the Grand Traverse County jail.

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