Pharmacist and Pharmacy Owner Sentenced to Prison for Unlawful Distribution of Opioids

After a 5-day trial, a jury convicted a pharmacy owner of drug and money laundering conspiracies as well as other related charges. The pharmacist-in-charge and other coconspirators pleaded guilty.

According to testimony from the trial, the owner, pharmacist-in-charge, and their coconspirators unlawfully distributed over 1.5 million doses of controlled substances over the course of 18 months. This quantity included more than 1.1 million oxycodone and hydrocodone pills.

Evidence showed that the pharmacy dispensed controlled substances, largely opioids, in bulk and for cash. They filled forged or stolen prescriptions that were brought in by drug couriers posing as staff of long-term care facilities, the Department of Justice said in a press release. The pharmacy brought in over $5.5 million from these activities, which the owner laundered and used to finance a lavish lifestyle.

The pharmacy owner was sentenced to 20 years in prison and ordered to forfeit over $700,000. The pharmacist-in-charge was sentenced to 24 months.