A federal jury in the Southern District of Florida has convicted a licensed pharmacist and pharmacy owner for her role in a massive conspiracy to distribute hundreds of thousands of oxycodone pills, according to the Department of Justice.
Olushola Yusuf, 60, of Tampa, was found guilty of conspiracy to illegally distribute drugs and five counts of drug distribution following a trial that revealed a scheme to dispense 30 mg oxycodone pills without medical need.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that Yusuf operated two pharmacies, Boots LLC in Margate and Chans Pharmacy Plus in Pembroke Pines, which became hubs for the unlawful distribution of high-potency narcotics.
The Department of Justice reported that Yusuf dispensed at least 335,351 pills of 30 mg oxycodone, the maximum strength available, typically reserved for patients suffering from chronic cancer pain or traumatic injuries.
According to court documents, Yusuf charged customers approximately 10 times the typical cost of the medication and required all payments to be made in cash.
Some patrons reportedly traveled long distances across the state to reach her pharmacies, with some paying as much as $1,000 a month to obtain the drugs.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division emphasized the severity of the breach of trust in a statement.
“The defendant abused the public trust by using her pharmacies to unlawfully distribute deadly opioids,” McDonald said.
He stated that the conviction sends an unmistakable message that drug dealers, whether on a street corner or behind a pharmacy counter, will be held fully accountable.
Witnesses testified that Yusuf maintained strict control over the pharmacy operations, keeping doors locked during business hours and only allowing certain customers to enter.
The prosecution established that Yusuf ignored repeated warnings from her own employees and the Drug Enforcement Administration regarding the dangerous nature of her conduct.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida noted that the defendant built her entire business model around ignoring red flags.
“She knowingly flooded South Florida communities with more than 335,000 high-dose oxycodone pills, even after her employees and the DEA warned her about the dangers of her conduct,” Quiñones said.
He added that Yusuf prioritized profit over public safety and her professional responsibilities by serving drug dealers and customers seeking high-dose narcotics.
Matthew W. Allen, the DEA chief of operations, highlighted the critical role pharmacists play as safeguards against the diversion of controlled substances.
“By dispensing hundreds of thousands of oxycodone pills to virtually anyone willing to pay inflated cash prices, the defendant abandoned that responsibility, exploited addiction, and endangered lives for personal profit,” Allen said.
He reaffirmed the DEA’s commitment to ensuring no one is above the law when they contribute to the distribution of dangerous drugs.
FBI Co-Deputy Director Christopher Raia stated that the defendant demonstrated a clear disregard for the community and endangered residents who should have been able to trust their healthcare provider.
Yusuf’s co-defendant, Saman Gimenez, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy and is scheduled for sentencing in October.
Yusuf now faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of which she was convicted.
A federal district court judge is scheduled to determine her final sentence on Oct. 14.