Claros Variedades convenience store workers accused of dispensing prescription drugs

Seven employees of the convenience store chain Claros Variedades were arrested and charged Thursday for the unauthorized dispensing of prescription medications, including an opioid that could be abused, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Suffolk County police executed search warrants at four convenience stores — Claros Variedades, Claros Multiservicios and Claros Variedades IV in Brentwood, plus Claros Variedades 3 in Huntington Station — all owned by the Claros family, none of which are licensed as pharmacies or authorized to dispense prescription medications, the district attorney’s office said.

Police discovered tramadol and other prescription medications at all four locations, officials said. Tramadol is a prescription opioid used to treat pain and "most commonly abused by narcotic addicts, chronic pain patients and health professionals," according to a news release from the district attorney’s office.

"What this investigation alleges is troubling in many aspects, as these stores have never been licensed, nor allowed to operate as pharmacies," Tierney said in the release. "Dispensing antibiotics without prescription and selling ... controlled substances, like tramadol, over-the-counter without medical authorization is not only against the law, but also dangerous."

Yesica Claros Ramos, 39, of Bay Shore, was charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.

Three employees — Roxana Ramos Argueta, 35, of Brentwood; Xenia Miranda Rodriguez, 24, of Brentwood; Kevin Claros, 29, of Brentwood — were charged with fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.

Another trio of employees — Idencis Chavez-Games, 22, of Huntington Station; Anna Griselda Rivera, 45, of Brentwood; Teresa Ramos Claros, 64, of Brentwood — were charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

District Court Judge Bernard Cheng ordered all seven Claros Variedades employees released without bail.

Brentwood-based defense attorney Gligoric Garupa, representing all seven employees individually, was not immediately available for comment Thursday evening.

Chavez-Games is due back in court Oct. 16. The other six convenience store employees are due back in court Oct. 17.