Florida's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program is already making a difference, helping pharmacists and law enforcement officers continue the fight against prescription drug abuse. As a result, prescription fraud is being addressed on many levels. The database is making its definitive mark in a state that has long been saddled with an unfortunate reputation as the pill mill capital of the United States.   "For a long time, Florida was behind the curve as far as drug monitoring goes. We pretty much supply most of the United States," said Sgt. Karl Albenga of the Lee County Sheriff's Office.   The Lee County Sheriff's Office is currently overwhelmed with cases of prescription fraud. Each of the six members of its pharmaceutical investigations task force are currently working on a staggering 40 cases each. Each prescription fraud case takes between two and three months to close because of the time needed to subpoena medical records. Despite this, investigators across Florida are determined to continue the fight against prescription drug abuse and prescription fraud. ...read more

A student at the University of Miami was charged with DUI manslaughter in the Oct. 3 death of a woman. Ivanna Victoria Villanueva, 19, crashed her car into Eyder Ayala's car in Coral Gables. Ayala was a mother of five and a grandmother of seven. Villanueva was initially charged with vehicular homicide, but prosecutors added the DUI manslaughter charge. If convicted, Villanueva could be sentenced to 15 years in prison, in addition to a third-degree felony charge of possessing a false driver's license. Shortly after the fatal accident, Villanueva's blood alcohol level was .231. The legal limit in Florida is .08. Villanueva had several fake IDs which she used earlier in the night to get into a swank Miami nightclub. She has pleaded not guilty and is currently serving house arrest. ...read more