WASHINGTON (AP) -- Pharmacy chain Rite Aid Corp. and subsidiaries in Virginia and seven other states will pay $5 million in penalties for violating rules designed to control key ingredients for methamphetamines.

The Justice Department said Monday that the drugstore operator also has agreed to a new compliance plan with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Officials said a DEA investigation found the company knowingly filled prescriptions for controlled substances pseudophedrine and ephedrine when it knew those prescriptions were not issued for a legitimate medical reason.

Violations were found at Rite Aid pharmacies in California, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

As of December, the Pennsylvania-based company operated 4,915 drugstores.

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