News : Vinton Police Arrest Waterloo Woman for Prescription Fraud

Kelly Diane Smith

Vinton Police today arrested Kelly Diane Smith, 28, of Waterloo for attempting to obtain a prescription controlled substance by providing false information, after being alerted by medical staff at the Vinton Family Medical Clinic.

Medical staff became suspicious when the local address Smith provided was determined to be non-existent.

Further investigation revealed that Smith had also used a false name, date of birth and social security number when registering with the clinic for medical services.

Providing false information to obtain a prescription controlled substance is a Serious Misdemeanor in Iowa, punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, 1 year in jail, or both.

"We handle several of these cases every year in Vinton," Vinton Police Chief Jeff Tilson said today. "These drug seekers seem to think we're not sharp enough to catch onto them out here in the rural areas. Our medical professionals have a pretty acute eye for these individuals, we have an excellent working relationship with all of the providers and medical facilities in Vinton, and they never hesitate to call us when they become suspicious. Driving from Waterloo or Cedar Rapids to Vinton when you've never been a patient here before, then asking for a prescription narcotic by name is a red flag that doesn't go unnoticed. We want to put anyone who is thinking of coming to Vinton to try this on notice: We have a brand new jail and plenty of space to lock them up if they want to come here and give us a try."

A Criminal Charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.