Gastonia Pharmacist Gets 2 Years for Oxycodone Scheme

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Cole Dixon Moore, 36, of Moore, South Carolina, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced yesterday to two years for peddling oxycodone pills like a street dealer, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced. Moore, a licensed pharmacist, wasn’t dispensing medicine – he was fueling addiction and profiting from misery.

The case, investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Gastonia Police Department, revealed a calculated scheme. Moore, working at Prescription Plus pharmacy in Gastonia, wasn’t just filling prescriptions; he was actively creating a black market. He knowingly sold large quantities of oxycodone and the sedative alprazolam to a customer with no legitimate need, fully aware the pills were destined for the streets.

Court documents paint a grim picture: Moore didn’t just turn a blind eye, he participated. He even suggested pricing for the illicit sales. Worse, he demanded a cut of the profits, establishing a clear agreement where the customer paid Moore upfront and again after the drugs were sold. Moore confessed to stealing the pills directly from the pharmacy’s inventory – a blatant betrayal of his oath and a dangerous disregard for public health. Investigators recovered at least 1,500 oxycodone and alprazolam pills linked to Moore’s illegal operation.

“Oxycodone on the streets has ruined lives and communities,” Ferguson stated bluntly. “A licensed pharmacist should not be supplying street dealers and making the problem worse.” U.S. District Judge David C. Norton, during sentencing, acknowledged the widespread devastation caused by the opioid crisis, a plague that Moore actively contributed to. Beyond the prison sentence, Moore will also face a term of supervised release and has forfeited the approximately $20,000 he made from his criminal enterprise.

This isn’t just about Moore, however. The pharmacy itself, Prescription Plus, already agreed in February to pay $204,000 to resolve allegations of failing to properly monitor its staff and maintain accurate records – negligence that directly enabled Moore’s scheme. The civil enforcement action was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Holly Snow.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Armstrong prosecuted the criminal case against Moore. This case serves as a stark reminder that those entrusted with public health – particularly those handling highly addictive substances – will be held accountable when they choose profit over people. The DEA and the Gastonia Police Department continue to investigate similar cases, aiming to stem the flow of deadly drugs into our communities.