Pharmacist facing charges after hundreds of oxycodone pills missing

A Bradenton pharmacist is facing charges after a Manatee County Sheriff's Office investigation revealed that as many as 500 oxycodone pills were missing from the pharmacy where he worked.

Cody Bennett, 33, was arrested Wednesday and charged with theft of controlled substances and possession of controlled substances.

More charges are pending, and the investigation remains ongoing as detectives are awaiting results of a complete audit and inventory, according to Sgt. Evelio Perez.

A report of suspicious activity at Manatee Discount Pharmacy, 3549 First St., was made to the sheriff’s office and an investigation by the Special Investigations Division was launched. Detectives so far have concluded that up to 500 oxycodone pills were missing from the pharmacy.

When Bennett was arrested on Wednesday, detectives say he had some of the missing oxycodone in his pockets. According to a news release, he ultimately confessed that he had been stealing controlled substances from the pharmacy since September.

Bennett, of Cape Coral, was fired as a result of his arrest, according to the sheriff’s office, and was issued a trespass warning preventing him from returning to the pharmacy.

Anyone with any information about the case is asked to call the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office at 941-747-3011 or to remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 866-634-8477(TIPS).

This story was originally published November 15, 2017 at 9:59 PM with the headline "Pharmacist facing charges after hundreds of oxycodone pills missing."