Edward Leonforte, 55, of Gainesville, and Larry Burstein, 69, of Alachua, Florida, have pleaded guilty to operating a multimillion-dollar internet pharmacy ring that flooded the U.S. with controlled substances—no prescription needed. The scheme moved over $7.5 million in pharmaceuticals between 2013 and 2015, with hundreds of thousands in codeine sold illegally through websites like freeworldpharmacy.com and medsindia.net.
On September 13, Leonforte admitted in federal court to conspiracy, distribution of the controlled substance codeine, and money laundering. Burstein entered his guilty plea today on conspiracy charges. Both men orchestrated the illegal online drug sales from a rental unit at Progress Park in Alachua, bypassing legal safeguards while raking in illicit profits. No legitimate medical oversight was ever involved.
Investigators uncovered that in 2012 and 2013, undercover DEA agents successfully ordered hundreds of codeine pills from the websites—without submitting a single prescription. The drugs arrived by mail, shipped directly from the defendants’ operation. In 2015 alone, Leonforte’s business funneled more than $385,000 in generic codeine to customers across the country.
The operation wasn’t just reckless—it was calculated. Leonforte and Burstein exploited the anonymity of the web to feed a dangerous black market, putting opioids directly into the hands of addicts, dealers, and anyone with a credit card. Their websites mimicked legitimate pharmacies, but inside, it was a criminal enterprise built on greed and deception.
Now, both men face up to 20 years in federal prison. Leonforte is scheduled for sentencing on January 4, 2017, at 5:30 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville. Burstein’s hearing follows on February 3, 2017, at 1:30 p.m. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason S. Beaton is leading the prosecution.
The bust was the result of a sweeping joint investigation by the DEA and IRS-Criminal Investigation, with critical support from local agencies including the Gainesville Police Department, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Health, FDA, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case exposes how digital fronts can mask old-school drug trafficking—only on a far larger, more profitable scale.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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