A Nigerian-born pharmacist who owned two pharmacies in South Florida has been found guilty by a U.S. federal jury for illegally distributing more than 335,000 oxycodone pills, the U.S. Department of Justice has announced.
The convict, Olushola Yusuf, 60, was found guilty after prosecutors presented evidence that she knowingly dispensed large quantities of the highly addictive opioid to individuals who had no legitimate medical need for the prescription drug.
According to prosecutors, customers paid unusually high cash prices for high-strength oxycodone tablets. Investigators also revealed that some buyers traveled long distances to purchase the medication, while others allegedly bought the pills for illegal resale on the black market.
Authorities said the illegal distribution of prescription opioids contributed to the diversion of controlled substances, a major factor in the opioid crisis that has claimed thousands of lives across the United States.
Following the conviction, Yusuf now faces up to 20 years in prison on each count. Her sentencing has been scheduled for October 14.
The case underscores the U.S. government’s continued crackdown on healthcare professionals who abuse their positions by unlawfully dispensing controlled substances. Officials have repeatedly warned that pharmacists and other licensed professionals have a legal and ethical duty to ensure prescription medications are supplied only for legitimate medical purposes.
