Huntington, West Virginia – In a major blow to the oxycodone abuse epidemic, Kofi Ohene Agyekum, 37, former owner and operator of A+ Care Pharmacy in Barboursville, West Virginia, was sentenced to five years and four months in federal prison for violating federal banking laws.
Agyekum’s crimes involved structuring cash transactions into amounts less than $10,000 to avoid triggering the reporting requirements and the detection of the underlying crimes. The money used in the banking crimes was derived from the distribution of oxycodone from A+ Care Pharmacy, both with prescriptions that had every indicia of illegality and without any prescriptions at all.
At his plea hearing in May 2015, Agyekum admitted that he deposited hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash that he derived from his operation of A+ Care Pharmacy. To avoid the federal reporting requirement, Agyekum admitted that he structured each deposit in an amount less than $10,000 and made the deposits in multiple bank accounts in various area banks, including Huntington National Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Chase Bank and First Sentry Bank.
The Court found that Agyekum’s actions contributed to the oxycodone abuse epidemic and that he was driven by simple greed. ‘These were very serious crimes that contributed to the oxycodone abuse epidemic,’ said Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.
Agyekum also agreed to forfeit to the United States more than $2.3 million plus a Lexus. ‘This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team, the West Virginia State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Monica D. Coleman is responsible for the prosecution.’
Agyekum’s sentencing is a significant victory for the Huntington community and a reminder that those who engage in banking crimes will be held accountable. ‘This case serves as a reminder that the Huntington community will not tolerate those who engage in banking crimes and contribute to the opioid abuse epidemic,’ said United States Attorney Booth Goodwin.
Kofi Ohene Agyekum, 37, former owner and operator of A+ Care Pharmacy in Barboursville, West Virginia, was sentenced in federal court in Huntington to five years and four months in federal prison for violating federal banking laws.
Exact criminal charges: Violating federal banking laws.
City and state: Huntington, West Virginia.
Exact date: May 2015 (plea hearing).
Sentence or outcome: Five years and four months in federal prison.
Dollar amounts: $2.3 million plus a Lexus.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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