Georgia women charged with selling deadly fake Roxicodone

A US woman has been charged with selling counterfeit oxycodone tablets laced with a substance that has been linked to dozens of deaths across the US.

Cathine Lavina Sellers (38) of Roswell, Georgia, is facing federal charges of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, and two synthetic opioids, furanyl-fentanyl and U-47700. A search warrant affidavit in the case alleges that Sellers was selling counterfeit copies of Mallinkrodt's Roxicodone (oxycodone) 30mg tablets out of her residence.

In the wake of the arrest a public warning has been issued about the counterfeit pills, which could be fatal to users. A similar warning was issued just last month when fake Percocet pills caused numerous overdoses in the Macon, Georgia area. Five overdose deaths have been linked to the fake Percocet pills.

"This defendant allegedly sold counterfeit pills that were deliberately designed to look like normal Roxicodone tablets when they were actually laced with fentanyl and two synthetic opioids," said US Attorney John Horn.

"These pills are especially dangerous because they may be more than 50 times more potent than normal oxycodone. Anyone who consumes these pills faces a substantially higher risk of overdose."

According to the indictment, and other information presented in court, on June 13 Sellers sold approximately 100 pills for $1,400 in cash from her Roswell townhouse to a confidential source working with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). A field test of the pills was positive for the presence of furanyl-fentanyl, which is an analogue of fentanyl, similar to morphine but more potent.

Later that night, DEA agents searched Sellers's home and retrieved the money from the earlier transaction. There, DEA agents found more pills, similar to those purchased, which also contained furanyl-fentanyl, concealed in a dietary supplement bottle. Agents also found a loaded Glock handgun and two magazines. DEA agents arrested Sellers that night.