Bradenton pharmacy worker charged with stealing more than $200,000 in pills

A 24-year--old man faces numerous drug trafficking and possession charges, after police said he stole numerous prescription medicines from the pharmacy where he worked, according to the Bradenton Police Department.

Officers who searched Sebastian Rodriguez Ochoa’s work locker Tuesday said they found in a backpack numerous different drugs, which had been set to be destroyed, with a total street value of more than $200,000, a news release states.

Officers made the find, after receiving a report from Vanguard Advance Pharmacy Systems, 905 Manatee Ave. E., that Ochoa was suspected of stealing the drugs. They searched his locker after obtaining a search warrant, according to the release.

After he was arrested, police said Ochoa admitted to stealing the drugs, but that this was the first time. He also said he is battling a drug addiciton, police said.

Ochoa faces charges of trafficking in hydromorphone, oxycodone, and morphine; and possession of fentanyl, buprenorphine, clonazepam, dronabinol, lorazepam, methylphenid and tramadol.

Court records show Ochoa has previous arrests for domestic battery, felony battery and violating a domestic violence injunction.

This story was originally published May 19, 2016 at 10:31 AM with the headline "Bradenton pharmacy worker charged with stealing more than $200,000 in pills."