Dec 2, 2009 By Patty Yauger 4 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – A former Burns Drugs pharmacist was sentenced to two years probation this week while his employers prepare for a Thursday court hearing in the same matter and begin the closure of the drugstores. Chris M. Ruby, 35, of Anita pleaded guilty in September to a single count of insurance fraud while other charges, including theft by deception, criminal conspiracy, tampering with public records, violation of the controlled substance act and Medicaid fraud, were dropped.

Ruby, along with storeowners Louis D. Stern, 61, and Jay S. Stern, 56, both of Connellsville, were charged last year by the state Attorney General’s office for allegedly fabricating records for nearly 300 prescriptions for various medications that were never authorized by physicians and not given to patients. However, the insurance companies were fraudulently billed more than $70,000, according to the criminal affidavit.

The Sterns are scheduled to appear before Fayette County Judge Gerald R. Solomon at 2 p.m. Thursday for a plea hearing. A trial is scheduled for Monday.

On Tuesday, the owners closed the Scottdale drugstore, with the Connellsville store slated to close today. A third pharmacy located in Mount Pleasant closed in December 2008.

Family spokesman Christopher Stern confirmed Tuesday that the longtime family-owned business was ending, and although the economy and increasing competition played a role in the closure, the main factor was that no other family member had pursued a pharmacological degree to take over the stores.

“They fought as long as they could,” he said of his father, uncle and aunt, who oversaw the day-to-day business. “The time was right and they were approached and thought it was as good of time as any to move on with the next phase of their lives.

“There is no one in the younger generation to take over and keep fighting that fight.”

Christopher Stern admitted that the closures are coinciding with the court hearings also taking place this week, but said that the closures would not have taken place if a buyer were not ready to enter into an agreement.

The owners, he said, had multiple offers for the business. However, it was Rite Aid that was willing to close the deal.

“As much as anything, it was their ability to shell out the cash,” he said.

Rite Aid will only acquire the pharmaceutical business and inventory, but not the 110 W. Crawford Ave. building that is owned by Stern Family Real Estate.

Christopher Stern said that several of the workers have already found other employment with others likely to garner positions because of their experience.

“That’s the hardest part about all of this,” he said. “We are family.

“I’ve watched the changes over the past 20 years and knew because no one was looking to become a pharmacist that someday there would be a change.

“The finality of all of it hit everyone pretty hard this week.”

Bernard Stern opened the Connellsville store in 1937 and oversaw the operation until the late 1980s, when Louis and Jay Stern assumed the operation. The current store is the third site for the business.

In February 2004, the previous store and an adjoining apartment complex were destroyed when an arsonist set fire to the building. No arrest has been made in the case. The business was also located on West Crawford Avenue.

A temporary store was set up until the family purchased the former McCrory building.

Rite Aid spokesman Eric Harkreader said Tuesday that the Scottdale Rite Aid pharmacy would assume the prescription customers of the Burns Drugs store today and the Connellsville store would complete the transition of the local Burns store customers on Thursday.

“We are doing everything we can to make it a seamless transition,” he said.

Rite Aid will continue to offer the Connellsville customers delivery service and charge accounts as offered by Burns Drugs.

Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce President Bryan Kisiel said Tuesday that he was disappointed the sluggish economy had claimed another business.

“Change is inevitable and when one door closes, another opens,” he said. “The chamber will work with the Main Street Committee to attract a new business into the space as quickly as possible so that this prime location in our downtown does not sit idle too long.”