1 year ago
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FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - A Madera pharmacist was sentenced connected Monday for illegally trafficking hundreds of thousands of opiate pills, the Department of Justice announced.
According to tribunal records, from December 2014 to November 2018, 49-year-old Ifeanyi Vincent Ntukogu of Fresno dispensed much than 450,000 oxycodone and hydrocodone pills done fraudulent prescriptions sent to him by his co-conspirators and co-defendants successful the case, Kelo White and Donald Pierre.
The DOJ states the prescriptions were from much than 10 antithetic physicians whose signatures were forged.
Federal investigators study Ntukogo reviewed each medicine and rejected ones helium believed regulators would find suspicious. He would past dispense the pills done his New Life Pharmacy successful Madera, requiring currency payments from his co-conspirators and expanding the complaint implicit time.
"He intentionally exploited his trusted role, dispensing hundreds of thousands of fraudulently prescribed oxycodone and hydrocodone pills, knowing his greed-fueled actions would enactment opioids successful the hands of cause dealers and could origin sedate harm to the public," said Special Agent successful Charge Sid Patel, who leads the FBI Sacramento tract office.
Court records study White and Pierre would illegally merchantability the pills crossed different states, including Tennessee and Texas. Ntukogu reportedly made hundreds of thousands of dollars participating successful the scheme.
"His illicit strategy led to the organisation of astir fractional a cardinal highly addictive opioids successful Tennessee, Texas and beyond; fueling the occurrence of medicine cause misuse and endangering American lives,” said DEA Special Agent successful Charge Bob P. Beris.
On Monday, the DOJ states Ntukogu was sentenced to 7 years and 3 months successful situation for illegally distributing oxycodone and hydrocodone. His condemnation was enhanced owed to his peculiar skills arsenic a pharmacist to assistance perpetrate the crime.
Attorneys adhd White is scheduled to beryllium sentenced connected Feb. 24, 2025, perchance facing 20 years successful situation and a $250,000 fine. Pierre is the remaining suspect successful the case; antecedently convicted and sentenced to 9 years and 4 months successful prison.
