BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT)

Two Loudon County men face TennCare fraud charges in Blount County for trying to use TennCare to fill fraudulent prescriptions, according to the State of Tennessee Office of Inspector General.

The OIG says Robert L. Smith, 21, and Jonathan Smallen, 21, are both from Lenoir City.

Smallen was charged with three counts of TennCare fraud, three counts of identity theft, one count of obtaining a schedule III drug by fraud, and two counts of obtaining a schedule II drug by fraud," according to an OIG release. "Smith was charged with one count of TennCare fraud one count of obtaining a schedule II drug by fraud and one count of identity theft."

The two allegedly tried to fill forged prescriptions for the painkillers Hydrocodone and Oxycodone.

“This is a great example of a pharmacy that was alert to the tactics some people will use to obtain prescription painkillers,” Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner says. “Tennessee pharmacies are getting more and more tuned in to the aspects of TennCare fraud, and we depend on them to help us identify these cases so we can prosecute them.”

If convicted, they could each face two years in prison.