PROVIDENCE, R.I.—A pharmacy owner and another man have been charged with illegally distributing painkillers and HIV drugs.
Prosecutors said Louis Romanelli bought thousands of pills of Hydrocodone and Oxycodone from an undercover agent from the Food and Drug Administration. The 81-year-old Romanelli is accused of selling the drugs to Carmine DeTomasis, an owner of Prime Drug in Providence, who allegedly passed them on to his customers.
State health director David Gifford says customers should not take any medication from the pharmacy. He says there's no way to know whether the drugs are safe.
Romanelli and DeTomasis, who is 73, were arrested Monday night. A federal magistrate released Romanelli on home confinement, but set bail for DeTomasis at $150,000 with surety.
