CT- Warrant out for ex-CVS pharmacist for kinky Craigslist ad

5-15-2009 Connecticut:

Nine months after The Hour alerted the public that a CVS pharmacist had allegedly used a customer's personal information to post a kinky sex ad on Craigslist about her, police have applied for a warrant for his arrest.

Jonathan Medina -- formerly a pharmacist at the CVS branch on the corner of Westport Avenue and Willard Road -- will be charged with two counts of second-degree harassment and two counts of computer crimes. Police said they believe Medina has left the state of Connecticut.

"Norwalk police prevailed," said the victim, whose name is being withheld by The Hour. "They did everything they could to find him."

The victim is also filing a lawsuit against CVS for violating her privacy. Al Perlaman, the victim's Roanoke, VA.-based attorney, said the company has not attempted to reach out to his client.

"I am really disappointed in CVS," said Perlaman. "No one from the company is trying to apologize or get her side of the story."

CVS spokesman Mike DeAglis would not comment the victim's allegations, but said Medina has not worked for the company since the allegation came to light in August. DeAglis said the company will cooperate with police, as Medina's actions "are a clear violation of our policies as well as a criminal act."

He said it is the company's policy, as well as a federal law, to keep any personal information private and anyone who violates this policy will be disciplined in accordance with the law.

According to the victim, she went to CVS on Aug. 11 at approximately 9:15 p.m. to pick up several prescriptions. When she arrived, Medina allegedly told her there were no refills remaining on two of the medications she takes daily.

The victim said she asked Medina why he hadn't called her doctor to have the prescriptions refilled as many pharmacists will do or advised her earlier in the day when she called that there was a problem.

Medina became rude and then grudgingly agreed to her request for a day's supply of medication until her doctor could be contacted, according to the victim.

But the victim said she was so taken aback by her treatment, she asked for the name and number of Medina's supervisor. She said the pharmacist scrawled the information on a piece of paper and shoved it across the counter at her. That's when she decided to leave.

"There was something about his eyes and the way he looked at me; I just didn't feel comfortable," she said. "I said to myself 'forget the medication' and I just left."

At 6:30 a.m. the next morning, the victim said she was awakened by a disturbing phone call from an unknown man asking her about the kinky, sexual promises she made in her ad.

Confused, the victim, who is married, at first thought it was a prank until the caller provided personal details that convinced her there was an ad posted on Craigslist.

The victim discovered the headlines for the ad read "Kinky (victim's name) looking for a good time" and "Busty (victim's name) looking for a good time in Norwalk" The ad copy exaggerated certain parts of her body, included offers of nontraditional sex and insinuated the victim was full of sexual stamina by assuring potential men that "twice is nice, if you can."

The ad also told potential partners she would be available "24/7" for them and included her street address and telephone number, which led one man who answered the ad to her door where he was greeted by the victim's angry husband.

According to an e-mail from officials at Craigslist, the ads ran in its "erotic services" section in the cities of New Haven, Hartford and New York. Craigslist removed the ad Aug. 14 and turned the information over to the Norwalk Police Department

Detective Eileen Northcott traced the IP address back to the pharmacist, according to the victim, who met with Northcott on Aug. 16 evening at police headquarters.

According to Craigslist, the suspect posted the ads using the e-mail address funkycmed@yahoo.com. The victim also learned the ad was posted on at least one other Web site.

Erotic services ads on Craigslist are being eliminated by Web site administrators after the ads led to two high-profile murders but the victim believes people will find a way to continue posting these ads.

"Anyone in Connecticut could have looked on Craigslist and found my personal information when it was listed," she said. "People really need to think about who they give their personal information to."

The victim said she has lived in fear since the incident and received explicit phone calls up to three months after the ad was taken down.

"When I go outside, I have to look around to make sure I'm not being followed," she said. "It's been a mess since this guy put my name up on Craigslist."

The fact that Medina's whereabouts is unknown makes the victim more apprehensive, as he could strike again at any time.

"I'm angry and kind of afraid that the man is still out there," the victim said. ..News Source.. by STEVE KOBAK, Hour Staff Writer