Man used UCF letterhead to craft prescriptions

A man posing as a patient at University of Central Florida Health Services is now facing some serious charges.

Investigators said 24-year-old Ryan Muscanell crafted his own prescriptions for controlled substances using UCF letterhead, and there could be others who have done it and haven't been caught yet.

Ryan Muscanell is not a student at UCF.

When WFTV arrived to Muscanell's home to get his side of the story, a woman answered the door but wouldn't talk about Muscanell's recent arrest.

"You're not coming here," she said.

"Are you Ryan's mother?" WFTV asked.

"I have nothing to say to you," she replied.

According to an investigation by the Metro Bureau of Investigations, he tried to fill several prescriptions at two different pharmacies with his own homemade scripts.

"We write as many electronic prescriptions as possible, and we keep a very tight, secure access on our prescriptions documents," said UCF spokesman Chad Binette.

That's how UCF doctors at the Health Services offices said they keep this type of crime from happening.

Reports show Muscanell used UCF letterhead to make a fake prescription for codeine.

The pharmacist at a Target store on Goldenrod Road became suspicious, so Muscanell left the store.

But weeks later, 23 fake prescriptions were filled at a Cure Aid pharmacy.

At least two of the scripts were linked to Muscanell, authorities said.

WFTV caught up with some students leaving Health Services who scratched their heads, wondering how the scam could have been pulled off.

"That must be really hard, because they really do everything by the book," said UCF student Ashley Long.

Especially since UCF officials said Muscanell isn't a student, at least not right now, and he's never been a patient.

"It's going to continue to be a priority for us to keep training our staff and make sure we have the best possible procedures in place," said Binette.

WFTV contacted MBI investigators to find out if they know who filled the other prescriptions, but they have not returned the station's calls.