The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) today announced the arrests of Pace Pharmacy pharmacists Stephen Allen Burklow and David Barron Winkles, along with pharmacy office manager Monique Burklow. The trio are charged with orchestrating a conspiracy to traffic large quantities of prescription opioids, including over 22 kilograms (48 pounds) of oxycodone, over 26 kilograms (57 pounds) of hydrocodone, and nearly one kilogram of hydromorphone. Stephen and Monique Burklow are the owners of Pace Pharmacy LLC.
The arrests are the culmination of a comprehensive, multi-year investigation led by the FDLE, with significant contributions from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Financial Services, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
“In our communities, there is no room for criminals that greedily profit from the opioid epidemic by trafficking illicit drugs under the guise of a legitimate pharmacy,” stated FDLE Pensacola Special Agent in Charge Chris Williams. “I am proud of the complex and dedicated work demonstrated by FDLE’s agents, crime intelligence analysts and forensic scientists, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office investigators, and the work of all of our partners to get these thugs off our streets.”
Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson echoed this sentiment, saying, “These arrests are a result of excellent teamwork between law enforcement agencies. This sends a clear message that no one is above the law, not even those entrusted with our community’s health. The illegal distribution of controlled substances puts lives at risk and fuels addiction. We will continue to hold individuals accountable who choose to profit from this type of criminal behavior.”
Stephen Burklow, 54, of Pace, faces charges of conspiracy to traffic oxycodone, conspiracy to traffic hydrocodone, conspiracy to traffic hydromorphone, conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, and five counts of identity theft.
David Barron Winkles, 69, of Pace, was arrested on charges of conspiracy to traffic schedule II-controlled substances and conspiracy to commit racketeering.
Monique Burklow, 58, of Pace, is charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to sell controlled substances.
FDLE’s investigation began in December 2020, following information that a local obstetrician-gynecologist, later identified as Dr. Elaine Sharp, was writing an unusually high volume of controlled substance prescriptions and recommending her patients fill them at Pace Pharmacy. This coincided with a multi-agency investigation into alleged pill mill operations in the area.
According to investigators, the Burklows and Winkles knowingly accepted and dispensed illicit prescriptions for powerful opioids outside the bounds of legitimate medical practice. Furthermore, Stephen Burklow allegedly used Pace Pharmacy to bill multiple insurance companies for prescriptions that may or may not have been provided to patients, utilizing various physicians’ National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers without their knowledge or consent.
The three individuals were arrested without incident and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail. The Office of the State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit will prosecute the cases.
The FDLE has confirmed that the investigation remains active and ongoing, suggesting the possibility of further developments.
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