Crime & Safety

'Pill Counter' Charged With Pocketing Oxycodone

A Providence man faces larceny charges after allegedly stealing oxycodone from the Barrington Rite-Aid.

A Providence man who works as a part-time pill counter for Rite-Aid pharmacy was charged with stealing oxycodone last Wednesday, Jan. 8, from the Barrington store.

Matthew J. Ponnequin, 24, of Vandewater Street, allegedly pocketed 100 pills in a bottle – one of six bottles reportedly in the store’s inventory. A surveillance camera set up in the store reportedly caught the man stealing the container, said Barrington Police Chief John LaCross.

Several Rite-Aid pharmacies at which the Providence man reportedly counted pills have been experiencing shortages of certain drugs, said LaCross. 

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The store set up a camera to try to photograph the man in the act of stealing the drugs, he said. The video was then taken to the Barrington police station by the Rite-Aid manager, who reported the alleged theft.

Ponnequin confessed to the theft of the oxycodone when confronted, said LaCross. He was taken to District Court and arraigned on charges of larceny of a controlled substance and possession of controlled prescription drugs.

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