Craig Greer, Internet Pharmacy Scheme, Washington 2016

Two key players in an illegal online pharmacy scheme were sentenced to prison today, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. Craig Greer, 43, a former police officer from Hollywood, Florida, was sentenced to 60 months in prison. Kevin Kogan, 48, a technology consultant from Cedar Park, Texas, was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

In 2009 and 2012, the illegal online pharmacy distributed hundreds of thousands of narcotic pills and other prescription drugs to approximately 200 customers in Washington State. The pharmacy shipped pills of hydrocodone, phentermine, alprazolam (Xanax), and codeine (Tylenol 4) to people across the country without valid prescriptions. The conspiracy brought in more than $9 million in revenue from the sale of pills during the three-year scheme.

Craig Greer, a former police officer, promoted the online pharmacy scheme by sending spam emails and ensuring long-time customers received their drugs, even without valid prescriptions. He also used his history as a police officer to lull doctors into thinking the online pharmacy operated within the law. Greer was involved in overseas online pharmacies affiliated with Juan Gallinal, the originator of the scheme.

Kevin Kogan set up the websites and servers for the online pharmacy and attempted to hide the conspiracy's databases from investigators. Kogan lied to investigators, destroyed evidence, and provided fraudulent information in response to a grand jury subpoena. He moved a critical company database to a server overseas to frustrate the law enforcement investigation.

The pharmacy operated four internet sites that solicited customers and allowed customers in Washington State to order drugs. The conspiracy would refill prescriptions even if no valid prescription existed, and in some instances, the conspirators looked for a physician in the same geographic area as the customer, with a similar sounding name, and filled the prescription using the physician's DEA number without the physician's knowledge.

The conspirators laundered the proceeds of their sales through a brick-and-mortar pharmacy in Florida called Discount Pharmacy of Pines. In June 2012, the DEA seized the websites, computers, and drug inventory associated with the illegal pharmacy.

Craig Greer was sentenced to 60 months in prison, three years of supervised release, including 250 hours of community service, and a money judgment of $88,635. Kevin Kogan was sentenced to 30 months in prison, three years of supervised release, including 150 hours of community service, and a money judgment of $155,660.

All but one of the defendants who were indicted in May 2014 have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Juan Gallinal, the originator of the scheme, is scheduled for sentencing in October 2016. Jordan Truxell, the registered agent for Discount Pharmacy, is scheduled for sentencing on June 3, 2016. Thomas Brooke, the bookkeeper for Discount Pharmacy, was sentenced to five years in prison on March 18, 2016. Ali Lovins, the office manager for Discount Pharmacy, was sentenced on March 4, 2016.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/two-key-players-illegal-online-pharmacy-scheme-sentenced-prison