On January 4, 2019, the Lewis County Sheriff's Office arrested Avis C. Garth, age 57, of Chicago, Illinois on one count of fraudulently attempting to obtain a controlled substance, a class E felony.

The Sheriff's Office began an investigation at the request of County Market Pharmacy in Lewistown on January 2, 2019.  Pharmacy employees reported a male subject had called in a fake prescription for a cough medicine containing codeine.

Members of the Sheriff's Office conducted surveillance for several days.  On January 4, 2019, the Canton County Market Pharmacy called to report an individual had arrived to pick up a cough medicine containing codeine.  They also believed the prescription was a fake.

Members of the Canton Police Department and the Lewis County Sheriff's Office contacted a female and male at County Market in Canton, Missouri.  The female, who reported she was an Uber driver, admitted she had driven Avis Garth from Chicago, Illinois to Canton, Missouri.  Garth was taken into custody and transported to the Lewis County Jail.

He remains lodged on a $10,000 cash only bond.