A Long Beach woman was one of five people arrested Tuesday morning for being linked to a Los Angeles-based drug trafficking ring that sold prescriptions for cash and obtained pills for sale on the black market.

Those arrested include the operators of the now-closed Southfork Medical Clinic in Los Angeles who sold prescriptions for drugs like oxycodone, best known by the brand names OxyContin and Percocet; hydrocodone, commonly sold under the brand names Vicodin, Norco and Lortab; alprazolam, otherwise known as Xanax; carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant sold under the brand name Soma; and promethazine with codeine — cough syrup sold on the street as “purple drank” and “sizzurp.”

Diane Nunez, 24, of Long Beach was one of those arrested. She oversaw day-to-day operations at Southfork.

According to the 33-count indictment in the case, a doctor named Madhu Garg at Southfork wrote prescriptions “while acting and intending to act outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose,” and Southfork employees forged another doctor’s handwriting and signature on faked prescriptions.

Garg issued more than 10,000 prescriptions, and 80% of those were for hydrocodone or alprazolam, most of which were at the maximum dosage, over a 15-month period, according to records maintained by the State of California.

The drugs were acquired in Los Angeles and delivered in bulk shipments to Texas, according to the indictment.

The investigation resulted in the seizure of multiple drug loads, including a January 2013 seizure of nearly 10,000 pills from the residence of ringleader Jagehauel Gillespie, and a July 2010 seizure of 48 bottles of promethazine with codeine from a car being driven across Texas driven by Gillespie and another defendant.

“Los Angeles is a major source of the deadly and addictive prescription drugs that are diverted to street sales across the Western United States,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Stephanie Yonekura. “This case in the latest in a series of prosecutions clearly demonstrating that law enforcement is committed to stemming the tide of drugs being diverted to the black market, as well as putting an end to medical professionals who abuse their prescription pads and their ethical obligations.”

The indictment is a result of multiple undercover oprtations.

The other four people besides Nunez arrested in the crime include Gillespie, 39, of Houston, the operator of Southfork who allegedly charged flat fees of up to $500 for prescriptions and who will face up to 149 years in federal prison if he is convicted; Garg, 63, of Glendora, the medical doctor who wrote prescriptions at Southfork, allegedly without any medical necessity, before the Medical Board of California revoked her license in late 2013; Daniel Clay, 45, of Houston, who allegedly shipped controlled substances from Southern California to Texas; and Ray Steven Benton, 56, of Baldwin Hills, a “capper” who recruited patients to obtain prescriptions at Southfork.

As well, two fugitives are currently being sought for the crime. Those are Jessica Poe, 32, of Inglewood, Gillespie’s girlfriend, who allegedly forged a doctor’s signature on prescriptions; and Joseph Tyree Boyance, 35, whose whereabouts are represently unknown, a “capper” who recruited patients to obtain prescriptions at Southfork.

All seven defendants are charged with conspiring to distribute narcotics, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Additionally, each defendant is charged in at least one substantive count of distributing a controlled substance, charges that could increase a prison term if they are convicted.

In addition to the drug counts, Garg is charged with money laundering for allegedly wiring drug money to an account in Kuala Lumpur.

Benton is charged with firearms offenses, and Gillespie and Benton are charged with using fake identities and fraudulent driver’s licenses at Los Angeles-area pharmacies.

City News Service contributed to this report.