EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP – An investigation into two arrests last month on fraudulent prescription charges led police to the filing of additional charges and the arrest of two others involved in the scheme.

On Tuesday, April 29 officers Ryan Hutton and Alek Pahang went to the Jersey Shore Pharmacy on Ocean Heights Avenue in response to a call of a woman attempting to fill a fraudulent prescription.

Police said the pharmacist determined that the prescription presented was forged on a stolen prescription pad.
Officers arrested the woman who presented the prescription, Shannon D’Allessandro, 20, of Margate, and Daniel Wellman, 25, of Egg Harbor Township, who was with her.

Further investigation by Hutton and Detective Mark Wagner led to the discovery of additional fraudulent prescription cases at the pharmacy, police said.

According to reports, Wellman had been forging prescriptions for drugs such as oxycodone, hydrocodone and dilaudid under various patient names, including his own.  He was charged with nine counts of obtaining prescription by fraud and forgery, and was placed in the Atlantic County jail on $50,000 bail.

Detective Ricky Cantz of the Egg Harbor City Police Department charged Wellman in the burglary and theft of the prescription pad from a doctor’s office in that jurisdiction.

He was also charged with stealing $808 in copper pipe and burglarizing vehicles. These were investigated by Officer Brian Keane and Detective John Heim.   

D’Allessandro was charged with two counts of obtaining prescription drugs by fraud and forgery and is being held in the Atlantic County jail on $25,000 bail.

Kristi Wolak, 21, of Egg Harbor Township was charged with two counts of obtaining prescription drugs by fraud and was released on a summons.

Amber Swigert, 24, of Egg Harbor Township was charged with obtaining prescription drugs by fraud and forgery and was lodged in the Atlantic County jail on $15,000.

Anyone with information regarding the prescription fraud or copper thefts is asked to contact the Egg Harbor Township Police Department Detective Division at (609) 926-4051 or Atlantic County Crime Stoppers at (800) 658-8477. The Atlantic County Crime Stoppers program offers cash rewards of up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in a criminal case. Callers can remain anonymous.