Pharmaceutical Executives Charged in $1.3 Billion Opioid Distribution Scheme
Ten individuals face charges for allegedly funneling millions of opioid pills to Houston-area 'pill mills,' marking the largest enforcement action of its kind.
- The Department of Justice charged five pharmaceutical executives and five sales representatives for distributing nearly 70 million opioid pills to Houston-area pharmacies.
- Three pharmacy operators in Houston have pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to the unlawful distribution of controlled substances.
- The operation targeted 'pill mill' pharmacies in Houston, a known 'hot zone' for drug diversion, where drugs were sold at above-market prices.
- The defendants allegedly exploited the opioid crisis for profit, selling dangerous drugs that ended up on the black market with a street value of $1.3 billion.
- The DOJ's enforcement action is the largest ever targeting pharmaceutical distributors and executives involved in opioid distribution.
Houston Public Media 
Denver Gazette 
U.S. Department of Justice 