Ifeanyi Vincent Ntukogu, 49, of Fresno, was sentenced today to seven years and three months in prison for his role in illegally distributing oxycodone and hydrocodone, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California.
Ntukogu, a pharmacist in Madera, dispensed over 450,000 oxycodone and hydrocodone pills from December 2014 to November 2018, all based on fraudulent prescriptions provided by co-conspirators Kelo White and Donald Pierre. The pills were dispensed in exchange for cash payments.
U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert condemned Ntukogu’s actions, stating, “This defendant displayed a blatant disregard for public safety and the law.” Talbert also acknowledged the collective efforts of agents, investigators, undercover officers, and medical professionals that led to the dismantling of this illicit prescription-writing operation.
Fraudulent Prescriptions and Nationwide Opioid Distribution
According to court documents, the fraudulent prescriptions bore the forged signatures of over 10 physicians. Ntukogu personally reviewed each prescription, rejecting only those that appeared suspicious, such as prescriptions from certain doctors or for individuals who had recently filled prescriptions at other pharmacies.
The pills were dispensed through his pharmacy, New Life Pharmacy in Madera, with White and Pierre selling them illegally in various locations, including Tennessee and Texas. Ntukogu’s role in the scheme earned him hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The court enhanced Ntukogu’s sentence due to his professional position as a licensed pharmacist, emphasizing that his actions exploited his trusted role to distribute opioids into the hands of drug dealers.
The Impact of His Actions
Sid Patel, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Sacramento field office, emphasized the severity of the crime, stating, “He intentionally exploited his trusted role, dispensing hundreds of thousands of fraudulently prescribed oxycodone and hydrocodone pills, knowing his greed-fueled actions would put opioids in the hands of drug dealers and could cause grave harm to the public.”
Ntukogu’s sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the role healthcare professionals play in the ongoing opioid crisis.
