A Madison NJ man was recently convicted of illegally distributing prescription drugs.
The 44-year-old suspect, a pharmacist who worked at Bottle Hill Pharmacy in Madison, New Jersey, conspired with a doctor and sold painkillers that Morris County prosecutors called “highly addictive.”
The suspect allegedly sold oxycodone to customers without prescriptions. He reportedly accepted cash and then made sure that a Madison NJ doctor wrote fake prescriptions to cover up the unlawful drug sales.
Law enforcement began an investigation into the suspect after receiving a tip that he was illegally selling pharmaceuticals. The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on the joint investigation.
The suspect was allegedly caught selling prescription painkillers to an undercover informant on three different occasions.
After a trial in Morris County Superior Court, the jury convicted the suspect of multiple criminal charges, including third degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) and third degree conspiracy to distribute prescription medication.
The high-profile trial lasted three weeks and generated a great deal of media coverage. During the trial, the suspect’s criminal defense attorney argued that the suspect had been entrapped by federal agents and that he had no intention of violating the law.
Meanwhile, prosecutors countered that the suspect “willfully participated in the illegal diversion of oxycodone, which is a primary driver in the epidemic of opiate abuse plaguing New Jersey and the U.S.”
The suspect will have to return to Morris County Superior Court, located in Morristown NJ, in July so that he can be formally sentenced. At sentencing, it is expected that the suspect’s criminal defense lawyer will highlight the fact that his client does not have a prior criminal record. Regardless, the suspect could potentially be sentenced to 3-5 years in New Jersey State Prison.
For additional information about this case, check out the NJ.com article, “N.J. Pharmacist Convicted of Selling Oxy without Prescriptions.”