2 Chicago women arrested in Negaunee for prescription fraud

NEGAUNEE, Mich. (WLUC) - A warrant has been issued for one of two women arrested in Negaunee for prescription fraud after she failed to appear for her scheduled arraignment Monday.

Unique Allen, 25, of Chicago, was scheduled for arraignment in Marquette County District Court Monday at 10 a.m. However, according to the district court, Allen did not appear for her scheduled hearing. She had previously been released on a $5,000 surety bond. A warrant for her arrest has been issued.

Allen was arrested with Taijah Witherspoon on Friday March 3, after staff at Snyders Drug Store in Negaunee notified UPSET detectives the day before that the two women had tried to obtain prescription medication from several of Snyder’s pharmacies in Upper Michigan. UPSET said they had a fraudulent prescription, which was verified by the pharmacy and detectives.

Allen is charged with 2 felonies related to the incident: 1 count of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and 1 count of assaulting/restricting/obstructing a police officer.

Taijah Witherspoon, 25, who was arrested with Allen, was arraigned March 9. Her preliminary exam in district court was waived. She is scheduled for an arraignment in Marquette County Circuit Court April 13 at 10:30 a.m.

Last published: Mar 9, 2023 3:42:47 PM

One of two women arrested last week in Negaunee during a prescription fraud investigation was arraigned Thursday.

Taijah Witherspoon was arraigned in Marquette County District Court Thursday morning, during which she plead not guilty to all charges against her. She is charged with two felony counts of assaulting/restricting/obstructing an officer and one count of driving with a suspended or revoked license, a misdemeanor.

Witherspoon was arrested Friday, March 3 after staff at Snyder’s Drug Stores notified UPSET detectives Thursday that she and one other person had tried to obtain prescription medication from several Snyder’s pharmacies in Upper Michigan. UPSET said Witherspoon and the other suspect had a fraudulent prescription, which was verified by the pharmacy and detectives.

Witherspoon is scheduled for a probable cause conference on March 22. The second defendant arrested with Witherspoon has not been arraigned yet. Her hearing is scheduled for Monday morning.

Last published: Mar 7, 2023 7:34:56 AM

Two women from Chicago were arrested last week in Marquette County for prescription fraud.

Detectives from the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team (UPSET) said they conducted an investigation Thursday that resulted in the arrests Friday. UPSET detectives said the suspects attempted to illegally obtain a false prescription and resisted arrest.

UPSET detectives said they were notified by staff at Snyder’s Drug Stores pharmacy when two people tried to obtain prescription medication from several different Snyder’s pharmacies in Upper Michigan. The suspects had a fraudulent prescription that was verified by the pharmacy and detectives.

On Friday, UPSET detectives and Michigan State Police troopers made contact with the suspects as they were leaving Snyder’s in Negaunee.

The suspects resisted arrest by locking their doors and not listening to the officer’s commands when ordered to exit the vehicle.

They were eventually taken into custody and lodged at the Marquette County Jail on felony charges related to obtaining a fraudulent prescription and resisting arrest. No names have been released.

UPSET was assisted by the Michigan State Police Negaunee Post and coordinated the investigation with Ishpeming Police Department and Negaunee Police Department.