BRIGHT, Ind. — An early-morning break-in at a small pharmacy last summer in Dearborn County helped crack open a large-scale organized pharmacy burglary investigation spanning multiple states.
In the overnight hours on that Sunday morning in June, thieves smashed into a Bright, Indiana, business. It's one of 12 George’s Pharmacy and Medical Equipment locations — an independent chain founded in Brookville, Indiana, by current owner and CEO Blake Gillman's father, George.
“We’re talking like glass shattered everywhere,” Gillman told WCPO. “They did get a significant amount of product, which was no good … I don't know the exact dollar amount, but it was expensive. And then not to mention the fact that we had doors that needed to be replaced, and then the door frame and then all of our glass for the windows.”
Gillman said the burglary caused disruption for patients who depend on timely prescriptions.
“When they took the amount of medication that they did ... there are reporting requirements to the DEA and Board of Pharmacy, and quotas from wholesalers,” Gillman said. “It definitely put a strain on our ability to serve patients. It was a disruption of at least a week.”
WATCH: Owner of Bright pharmacy reacts to multi-state probe sparked by burglary at his business
According to the Dearborn County Sheriff’s Office, investigators identified similarities between the Bright burglary and others across the Tri-State within two days. They happened June 1-2, 2025, at pharmacies including Mullany's Pharmacy in Forest Park, Hill's Pharmacy in Milford, Clark's Pharmacy in Washington Township and TRI Health Pharmacy in Norwood, according to federal prosecutors.
As the investigation expanded, detectives linked the group to a string of 10 pharmacy burglaries that occurred between Cincinnati and St. Louis in July 2024. A joint investigation involving the Dearborn County Special Crimes Unit, West Chester (Ohio) Police Department, Ada County (Idaho) Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in St. Louis eventually uncovered a sprawling operation believed to span 72 pharmacy burglaries in 12 states.
The Dearborn County Sheriff's Office described the crimes as a sophisticated network involving approximately 25 individuals, strategically targeting rural and small-town pharmacies. Local and federal Investigators said the group used coordinated travel, surveillance of targets and specialized equipment to carry out nighttime heists.
In November and December 2025, Dearborn County, West Chester and DEA authorities began tracking the individuals in the group. Surveillance efforts initiated in December led to significant developments when two suspects traveled to Ohio and subsequently committed three burglaries in Indiana, the Dearborn County Sheriff's Office said.
Critical intelligence pointed to the group’s methods, distribution of stolen pharmaceuticals and operational structure. Investigators identified shipping methods and intercepted approximately 8 pounds of stolen pharmaceuticals.
The suspects returned to the region in early February 2026, committing two additional burglaries, the Dearborn County Sheriff's Office said. Following those incidents, the suspects allegedly fled a traffic stop in West Chester. Police apprehended four people not long after.
Subsequent search warrants resulted in the seizure of substantial evidence, including 11 cellular phones, approximately 21 pounds of pharmaceuticals, a pill-counting machine and other materials linked to the criminal operation, authorities said.
Parallel investigations in Idaho connected additional western U.S. burglaries to the same group, and in February, the case was presented to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois, leading to federal indictments.
Court documents filed on April 7 detail allegations against four men: Anthony Ellison, Tyrus Crew, James Robinson and Idani Johnson, accused of conspiring to break into pharmacies to steal Schedule II narcotics, then transport them across state lines for illegal sale. Crew and Ellison were among the four people arrested following the West Chester traffic stop.
Dearborn County Sheriff Shane J. McHenry praised the collaborative efforts between the Dearborn County Special Crimes Unit, West Chester Police, Ada County Sheriff’s Office and the DEA.
“The scale and sophistication of this organization required a sustained, collaborative effort to disrupt and dismantle,” McHenry said.
While the investigation continues and additional indictments for other suspects are anticipated, Gillman said George’s Pharmacy has heightened security at all locations and trained staff to be vigilant.
“The biggest thing is to educate your staff. If something looks off, ask questions. Be proactive," Gillman said. "You can never really totally put closure to something, but to know there is a little bit of closure and that something came at the end of it is, you know, it's a good feeling. I appreciate all the hard work from everybody involved."
