A former Paxton pharmacist, whose license was suspended by state regulators in 2023, is now facing felony charges. This comes after federal investigators discovered a collection of prescription drugs in her home.
Jenna Lee Vogel, the former owner and head pharmacist of the now-closed Doug’s Compounding Pharmacy in downtown Paxton, is facing charges filed by Ford County State’s Attorney Andrew Killian on Monday, Feb. 24. She has been charged with two counts of possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, including one Class X felony count and one Class 3 felony count.
According to court records, there is an initial hearing scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 25 in Ford County Circuit Court.
According to Lt. Jacqui Cornett of the Ford County Sheriff’s Office, as of Tuesday, February 25, Vogel, a 35-year-old resident of Gibson City, had not yet been booked into the Ford County Jail.
According to the charges, on or about March 10, 2023, Vogel was found to be knowingly in possession of a controlled substance containing hydrocodone, with the intent to deliver 100 grams or more. Additionally, Vogel was also found to have an undisclosed amount of amphetamine, which is also a controlled substance.
Killian declined to provide any comment on the charges as the matter is still pending, according to an email response.
On March 10, 2023, investigators from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration removed a total of 43,893 controlled substances from the Vogel home. This incident led to the temporary suspension of Vogel’s registered pharmacist license by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, as stated in the complaint that initiated the suspension.
The complaint stated that the drugs found during the search included medications in their original bottles, as well as unlabeled vials and containers of compounded creams. Some of the products were found with and without a product name. Additionally, loose tablets and capsules were discovered at the bottom of bags and totes. It is important to note that only a portion of these drugs were prescribed to Vogel.
According to the complaint, three days later, Vogel’s then-husband submitted some of the antihypertensive drug Clonidine to the DEA, which had been discovered in their home. The complaint stated that Vogel’s pharmacy, located at 137 N. Market St. in Paxton, had bought over 50,000 tablets of Clonidine but had never sold them before abruptly closing months earlier. Additionally, the complaint highlighted that the children’s childcare providers had observed that the kids were feeling “sleepy and lethargic.”
Mary Meehan, the chief of health-related prosecutions for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, filed a complaint that resulted in a finding. The finding stated that Vogel poses an imminent danger to the public. As a result, Vogel’s license has been suspended, effective May 5, 2023.
If Vogel is found guilty of the Class X felony charge, she could be sentenced to a mandatory prison term of six to 30 years. Similarly, the Class 3 felony carries penalties that range from probation to a maximum of five years’ imprisonment. In addition to these penalties, there is also the possibility of a mandatory “street value” fine being imposed.
Vogel did not reply promptly to a message sent on Tuesday, Feb. 25, to her social media profile, when asked for a comment. In 2023, Vogel refuted any allegations of misconduct and even went as far as to threaten legal action against the Ford County Chronicle for their coverage of the news.
In an August 2023 text message, Vogel sternly warned, “If you continue to defame my name, I will take legal action against you.”
In 2019, Vogel acquired Doug’s Compounding Pharmacy from its original owner and pharmacist, Doug Higgins, who had founded the business back in 1997. Prior to this, Vogel had completed an internship at the pharmacy during her time as a pharmacy student.
In winter 2022-23, the pharmacy unexpectedly closed its doors after facing a foreclosure complaint from First Financial Bank, based in Arkansas. The bank had filed the complaint against Vogel, the owner, and had obtained a judgment in its favor in the summer of 2023. The foreclosure complaint stated that Vogel had failed to make payments on a $1.75 million mortgage she had taken out to purchase the pharmacy.
Andy Hudson, the owner of Hudson Drug & Hallmark Shop located at 108 N. Market St. in Paxton’s downtown, made a significant investment after a foreclosure sale. In the fall of 2023, he acquired the property that used to house Doug’s Compounding Pharmacy. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Andy opened Hudz Family Fun Zone at this location in December 2024.