Former Vet Receptionist Sentenced to Probation for Forging Opioid Prescriptions
Rebecca Holder accessed a former employer's data to fill 78 prescriptions for over 8,000 pills using her deceased dog's name.
By Kofi Costa ·
Rebecca Holder, a former receptionist at a Howard County animal hospital, pleaded guilty on Monday to forging a veterinarian's credentials to obtain thousands of opioid pills.
The 53-year-old woman was sentenced to three years of supervised probation. The court also ordered her to complete drug and mental health treatment and to have no contact with the victim, Dr. Timothy Cujdik.
Court documents show Holder filled 78 prescriptions totaling more than 8,000 pills. She used the name of her deceased dog to fill these scripts at least six different pharmacies. A Wegmans pharmacist detected the irregularities and alerted Cujdik to the fraud.
Cujdik, who owns Paws Up Veterinary practice in Columbia, told WBAL he was stunned by the plea deal. He stated that Holder jeopardized his professional license and his three-decades-long reputation in the veterinary field. The two had worked together previously at Hunt Valley Animal Hospital, where Cujdik cared for Holder's pets.
Prosecutors charged Holder with 15 counts in the indictment. She accepted a plea deal for one count of possession with intent to distribute the day before her trial was scheduled to begin.
