A former Norwich pharmacist pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Hartford to using forged prescriptions to acquire thousands of oxycodone and alprazolam tablets from the pharmacy where he was employed.

Eric Tingley, 43, formerly of Lebanon and currently residing in Hopkinton, R.I., pleaded guilty to  to one count of possession with intent to distribute oxycodone and alprazolam, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on January 9, 2020.

According to the government, Tingley was a licensed pharmacist employed at a pharmacy in Norwich.  Between approximately October 2016 and July 2017, Tingley forged approximately 183 prescriptions for oxycodone and approximately 26 prescriptions for alprazolam, and filled the forged prescriptions at the pharmacy where he worked.  Through these forged prescriptions, Tingley unlawfully obtained more than 35,000 oxycodone tablets and more than 2,000 alprazolam tablets.  He then distributed the drugs for his own benefit.

Tingley was arrested on June 27, 2018. He is free on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.

The  investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Pierpont, Jr.