A Florida pharmacist who prosecutors accused of using her own pharmacies as a pipeline for illegal prescription drugs has been convicted in what federal authorities described as a “massive oxycodone distribution conspiracy.”
Federal prosecutors say Olushola Yusuf, 60, of Tampa, Florida, was found guilty by a jury for her alleged role in a scheme involving the distribution of large quantities of oxycodone 30mg pills, a powerful prescription opioid that has been heavily linked to the nation’s opioid crisis.
According to federal officials, Yusuf owned and operated pharmacies in South Florida where investigators say hundreds of thousands of oxycodone tablets were distributed to customers who allegedly did not have a legitimate medical need for the medication.
Authorities say the case centered around two pharmacies connected to Yusuf:
Chans Pharmacy Plus
Boots LLC, doing business as Striderite
Federal prosecutors alleged that the pharmacies became a destination for people seeking large quantities of oxycodone, with some customers allegedly traveling long distances to obtain the medication.
Prosecutors Say Pharmacy Became Part Of Illegal Pill Pipeline
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Yusuf knowingly participated in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances outside the boundaries of legitimate medical practice.
Officials claimed the pharmacies filled prescriptions for oxycodone 30mg pills despite warning signs that should have raised concerns.
Investigators alleged that many customers paid in cash and that some paid prices far above normal pharmacy costs because of the demand for the medication.
According to prosecutors, the operation involved the distribution of more than 300,000 oxycodone pills during the alleged conspiracy period.
Federal authorities say some individuals would allegedly pick up prescriptions for others, raising additional concerns about whether the medication was being distributed to the people it was prescribed for.
The government also claimed Yusuf continued filling questionable prescriptions even after concerns were reportedly brought to her attention by employees and federal investigators.