34 arrested in prescription drug ring

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Federal, state and local police joined forces to break up a prescription drug ring. The operation spread narcotics through the Buffalo suburbs.

22-year-old Justin Doyle worked at this Cheektowaga gas station. From the street, nothing looked suspicious, until about four months ago, when federal and local agents launched "Operation Pill Pusher." What they uncovered was a hub of illegal prescription drug sales, far larger than any one thought.

U.S. Attorney William Hochul said, "This is going to be a multi-faced attack. Step one in a multi-step process."

Hochul and law enforcers from multiple agencies stood united as the shut down of a major illegal prescription drug ring. Doyle, and 33 others were hauled into Federal Court Thursday morning.

>>>See the names of all of those arrested in the press release from the U.S. Attorney's office here

"Certainly, these prescription pills wouldn't begin their journey to the medicine cabinet unless some medical professionals wrote these prescriptions," explained Hochul.

No medical professionals were arrested at this time. Authorities identified Michael McCall as the alleged kingpin of the operation which stretched across WNY. Investigators say he would school his workers on how to fake illnesses as a way to get prescriptions from unsuspecting doctors.

The bust highlighted the growing problem of prescription drug abuse in our community. At ECMC, it rivals illegal drug use as a cause for ER visits. The arrests followed several high profile cases, including the recent death of Zachary Crotty. The local teen died after taking a deadly mix of prescription drugs. Authorities are now calling on the community to play a greater role in prevention.

Hochul stated, "Parents and grandparents: you need to count your prescription pills. Doctors and medical professionals: please use care in issuing your prescriptions."