A Jonesboro woman has been charged with felony and misdemeanor offenses after police alleged she impersonated a hospital employee to collect prescription medications from residents at their homes.
Kori Partovi, 37, was taken into custody on Sunday, Aug. 2, and is being held in the Craighead County Detention Center on a $35,000 cash or surety bond. Court records indicate that she faces charges of possession of controlled substances, theft, and criminal impersonation.
Officers responded to a call around 9 a.m. on Paula and Covey Drives concerning a woman claiming to conduct a "Drug Take Back" initiative on behalf of St. Bernards Medical Center. One resident, identified as a hospital employee, recognized the program as a fraud and notified police.
When confronted by officers, Partovi reportedly stated that she learned about the program through a Facebook group but admitted there were "no instructions on what to do." According to an affidavit, she said she had seen a similar effort in Memphis involving doctors and lawyers and was motivated to participate after losing a relative to an overdose.
Surveillance video from residents allegedly captured Partovi falsely representing herself as working for St. Bernards. Officers say they found a purple bag in her possession containing prescription medications, including 16 hydrocodone/acetaminophen pills and 17 Ambien pills, which were traced to another resident she had contacted under false pretenses. Police also discovered several white adhesive packaging bags inside the purple bag.
Craighead County District Court Judge Tommy Fowler determined there was probable cause to charge Partovi with possession of a Schedule I/II controlled substance (not methamphetamine or cocaine) in a quantity greater than 2 grams but less than 28 grams, a Class C felony. She is also facing charges of possession of a Schedule IV/V controlled substance, theft of $1,000 or less, and criminal impersonation, all Class A misdemeanors.
Partovi is scheduled to appear in circuit court on Aug. 21.
Police urge residents to be cautious and verify the legitimacy of any programs soliciting medications or personal information.