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Three Arrested At Pace Pharmacy For Alleged Pill Mill Scheme. Here’s What To Know.
May 15, 2025
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) today arrested Pace Pharmacy pharmacists Stephen Allen Burklow and David Barron Winkles and pharmacy office manager Monique Burklow. The suspects are charged with conspiring to traffic prescription drugs including trafficking over 22 kilograms (48 pounds) of oxycodone, over 26 kilograms (57 pounds) of hydrocodone and just shy of one kilogram of hydromorphone. The Burklows are the owners of Pace Pharmacy LLC.
The arrests are the result of a multi-year, multi-agency investigation led by FDLE with assistance 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,” said 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.”
“These arrests are a result of excellent teamwork between law enforcement agencies,” said Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson. “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, was arrested on 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.
Winkles, 69, of Pace, was arrested on conspiracy to traffic schedule II-controlled substances and conspiracy to commit racketeering.
Monique Burklow, 58, of Pace, was arrested on conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to sell controlled substances.
FDLE’s investigation began in December 2020, after learning that a local obstetrician-gynecologist, later identified as Dr. Elaine Sharp, was writing an excessive amount of controlled substance prescriptions and recommending her patients fill the prescriptions at Pace Pharmacy. During this same time, FDLE was working jointly with multiple state, local and federal agencies to investigate numerous allegations of a pill mill operation in the area.
Agents say the Burklows and Winkles accepted and dispensed illicit prescriptions (including oxycodone, hydromorphone and hydrocodone) outside the course of professional practice and not intended for medical purpose or need. Additionally, Mr. Burklow, through the Pace Pharmacy, billed multiple insurance companies, using various physicians’ National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers without their knowledge or consent to do so, for prescriptions that may or may not have been provided to patients.
The trio were arrested without incident and booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail. The cases will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, First Judicial Circuit.
Pictured: (L-R) Monique Burklow, Stephen Allen Burklow, and David Barron Winkles.
Comments
10 Responses to “Three Arrested At Pace Pharmacy For Alleged Pill Mill Scheme. Here’s What To Know.”
So many people with chronic pain from spinal diseases, joint issues, post surgery pain are DENIED ADEQUATE pain management because of some who are selfish, money grabbing individuals destroying the fabrics of society. Making it difficult for true sufferers, who are then treated like drug seekers, as it is assumed everyone is part of their plans.
When in reality, sufferers are just trying to live life comfortably
Multi year investigation? How many people died or got hooked on drugs during this time? Should have busted them ASAP.
There’s many more out there. Let’s get them all
Excess prescriptions in the original entry!
It’s so sad. These people were once a very good & loving place. My grandmother LOVED THEM. like BACK in 2013 they used to be called burklow pharmacy. SO SAD TO SEE WHAT DRUGS & MONEY CAN DO TO GOOD PEOPLE. DOWN THE DRAIN WITH GOODNESS.
HOLY COW!!! And right under the noses of the whole community! A BIG tip of the hat to all the agencies that were involved with this extraordinary drug bust!! Now it makes one wonder where all their very regular customers will go for their illegal fix?
Criminals like this sleezey crew cause people who need these medications for chronic pain to have to jump through hoops to get it legally. Bless the people with real pain and the FDLE / SRCSO for nailing these creeps.
Reminds me of a Forrest Gump quote.
Better living through modern pharmacology
The SRCSO needs to place one of those signs that say “THIS DRUG HOUSE IS CLOSED” out front.