Fort Myers, Florida — A local pharmacist has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for his role in a money laundering conspiracy. Jorge Otano, 54, of Cape Coral, was found guilty of evading transaction reporting requirements in a scheme that generated over $1 million in illicit profits.
According to court documents, Otano and his wife, Martha Otano, owned and operated St. Jude’s Pharmacy in Cape Coral from August 2009 to November 15, 2012. During this time, the pharmacy filled fraudulent prescriptions for oxycodone and charged between $4.00 and $12.00 per pill, resulting in significant profits.
From April 2011 to November 15, 2012, the Otanos made structured cash deposits of the proceeds from the sale of oxycodone into multiple bank accounts. They knew that the money obtained from the sale of oxycodone was the proceeds of unlawful narcotics distribution.
The Otanos then used drug proceeds to purchase two residences in Cape Coral, a truck, and a luxury car. Martha Otano was also sentenced in connection with the conspiracy, receiving three years and one month in federal prison on July 21, 2014.
U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell imposed the 12-year sentence and a fine of $15,000 on Otano. The Court also entered a money judgment of $1,307,000 against Otano and his wife, representing the amount of funds involved in the conspiracy. As partial satisfaction of the money judgment, Otano was ordered to forfeit $870,376.79 that had been seized by law enforcement during the investigation. He was also ordered to forfeit two vehicles that were involved in the money laundering conspiracy.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Cape Coral Police Department and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David G. Lazarus and Yolande G. Viacava.
St. Jude’s Pharmacy made a significant profit by filling fraudulent prescriptions for oxycodone and charging $4.00 to $12.00 per pill, resulting in significant profits.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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