An Orono pharmacy and its owner will pay $60,000 to the federal government to resolve allegations that it handled controlled substances improperly.

The resolution with Orono Pharmacy Inc. and its owner, Ali Aghamoosa of Orono, was announced Friday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Portland.

According to the government, from 2014 through 2016, the pharmacy and Aghamoosa failed to maintain accurate records of transactions involving controlled substances. Federal officials said the pharmacy didn’t record when, and in what quantities, it received, sold and dispensed controlled substances and thousands of doses were unaccounted for. One pharmacist diverted some of the controlled substances and another falsified records, the government alleged.

The government didn’t say precisely which drugs were allegedly involved, but said their classification as controlled indicated that they had a high potential for abuse and could be dangerous if not used properly.

As part of the deal to resolve the matter, Orono Pharmacy and Aghamoosa did not admit wrongdoing and the U.S. Attorney’s Office said they cooperated in the investigation.


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