Pubdate: Sat, 29 Jan 2005
Source: Muskogee Daily Phoenix (OK)
Copyright: C2005 Muskogee Daily Phoenix
Contact: http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3319
Author: Elizabeth Ridenour, Phoenix Staff Writer

STORE BOSS JAILED IN METH CASE

Police Say Tahlequah Owner Was Selling Pseudoephedrine

A Tahlequah convenience store owner was arrested Friday in connection
with pseudoephedrine being stocked on his store's shelves, said
Richard Gray, district attorney for Cherokee, Adair, Sequoyah and
Wagoner counties.

Sonny Patel, 30, owner of Super Mart at First Street and Bertha Parker
Bypass, was arrested about 2 p.m. after investigators received a tip
that pseudoephedrine was being sold at his convenience store.

"He had 12 cases. Each case had 12 boxes in it. Each box had 36
tablets," Gray said. "They're not even supposed to sell it at a
convenience store. He still had name-brand stuff on the shelf."

He was booked into the Cherokee County Jail on complaints of
possession of a precursor (the pseudoephedrine) and operating a head
shop.

His bond has been set at $250,000.

State law prohibits anyone except pharmacies from selling
over-the-counter cold tablets that contain pseudoephedrine, such as
Sudafed or Benadryl.

The law, enacted in April, states that sales records are to be kept
and no more than nine grams, or about six boxes of cold medicine, are
to be sold to one person during a 30-day period.

A Walgreens pharmacy in Enid was the first drug store in the state to
be accused of violating the law, according to Associated Press reports.

Enid police arrested 19 people Thursday on allegations they purchased
excessive amounts of pseudoephedrine. 
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