Government's case in the Tayloe Pharmacy bust appears to be unraveling | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This article originally appeared in the Beaufort Observer.

    The government's case in the Tayloe Pharmacy drug bust appears to be unraveling. Charges against Lori Melton and Anna Moore were dismissed yesterday (1-23-13) in Federal Eastern District Court in Elizabeth City by Judge Terrence Boyle. The Motion to Dismiss simply states that the reason for dismissing the charges "...against the named defendants (Lori Melton and Anna Moore) only in light of newly obtained information."

    Sources tell us that the other defendants are also seeking or will be seeking dismissals. The trials were scheduled to begin next week, but now appear to be delayed until at least March.

    None of the principals in the case (defendants, attorneys etc.) would comment for the record because of the charges still pending against some of them. But we were told that the government's case has been dealt a severe blow by recent revelations and there is speculation that all of the current defendants will walk free.

    The case is more than a year old. Media reports indicated at the time of the arrests that there was an alleged "drug ring" operating out of Tayloe Pharmacy and the Beaufort Hospital involving prescription drugs, including steroids. Rumors were rampant that law enforcement officers were involved in obtaining "performance enhancing drugs" in the operation. The Beaufort Observer has been told that some of the officers involved in investigating the case were themselves involved but that has never been proven. We are still investigating that, but most of the sources are unwilling for the information to be released until the legal proceedings are final. But one highly reliable source tells us: "There is a good possibility others will be indicted, or sued, before this is all over."

    Apparently there were unusual circumstances involved in the case. Normally the case would have been tried by the local District Attorney. But after months of rumors about law enforcement officers being involved District Attorney Seth Edwards told us: "I can assure you that we have no information that any officers were involved." But he then turned the case over to an outside District Attorney who then handed the case off to a prosecutor who works jointly in state and federal cases. That raised more questions about what is so unusual about this case. But no law enforcement officers have been charged with anything.

    You can review the charges brought against each defendant by clicking here.

    You can review the history of the legal proceedings through 1-23-13 by clicking here.

    Check back later. We'll keep you posted as this case unfolds.