A surgeon from Globe has been indicted on dozens of charges after he allegedly forged the signature of a Phoenix doctor to obtain opioids for his personal use.
The indictment against 40-year-old Dr. Jamison Mark Foster was announced by Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich on Wednesday.
Authorities say the indictment alleges that Foster had been previously employed by the victim doctor.
The investigation started in May when Foster allegedly tried to fill a forged prescription for oxycodone at a pharmacy in Globe.
Officials say the pharmacist then reached out to law enforcement over suspicions of the alleged forged prescription.
Authorities then contacted the victim doctor and learned that she had not authorized the 71 prescriptions that Foster reportedly filled at pharmacies across Arizona from June 2016 until May 2017.
Foster faces 30 felony charges including fraudulent schemes, forgery, taking the identity of another, and acquisition of narcotic and dangerous drugs by fraud.
In a statement, the Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center said Foster was hired in mid-March and worked there until his arrest in May.
"CVRMC does not condone this type of behavior from any of our staff, especially a doctor who is providing direct patient care for those we serve," the hospital said. "We wish Dr. Foster strength in his recovery efforts as well as all those we know who are suffering from some sort of addiction."
