Drug bust at VA Medical Center in Riviera Beach leads to several arrests

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. - A seven month undercover investigation has led to the arrest of over a dozen people who are now accused of running a prescription drug operation out of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Riviera Beach.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, the State Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs and the Office of Inspector General-Criminal Investigations Division, all worked together to put an end to the illegal distribution of prescription drugs by VA employees, veterans at the VA and their associates.

Part of the undercover operation led investigators to the home of Terri and Carlos Guerra. There they found a safe containing 5,000 oxycodone pills and more than $100,000 dollars in cash. Now both Terri and Carlos Guerra are facing charges of conspiracy to traffic oxycodone.

According to the affidavit, investigators started looking into the Terri and Carlos Guerra after Guerra's son, Larry Dorsey, was arrested by the DEA in Pittsburgh for trying to sell oxycodone. The affidavit says Dorsey told investigators where they could find more of the prescription medication and thousands of dollars.

The affidavit says Dorsey's mother, Terri Guerra, an employee of the VA, is responsible for the ordering and inventory of all controlled pharmaceuticals at the center. According to investigators, Guerra was placing orders for oxycodone at the same time her son was selling them.

Neighbors say they are stunned at the news and say nothing out of the ordinary was ever spotted at the Guerra's home.

After a search of two residents, investigators seized more than 6,000 oxycodone pills and almost $200,000 dollars in cash.

Investigators say the all the arrests that took place Thursday included veterans who were allegedly selling drugs to make money, nursing assistants, and pharmacy technicians. The State Attorney's Office says more arrests are likely. No doctors have been arrested.