A federal court has issued a temporary restraining order against Nathaniel Esalomi, a Tampa-area pharmacist, to prevent him from filling prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances.
The complaint, filed on August 1 and unsealed today, alleges that Esalomi unlawfully distributed powerful opioids by filling prescriptions he knew were not valid at Apexx Pharmacy in Hudson, Florida, where he is the owner and sole pharmacist.
According to the complaint, Esalomi charged dramatically inflated prices to fill opioid prescriptions and accepted thousands of dollars in cash for the drugs. The complaint further alleges that Esalomi instructed individuals to forge signatures on certain forms and to falsify addresses.
The complaint also alleges that Esalomi filled numerous controlled substance prescriptions for persons who were deceased.
Esalomi, 45, is the owner and sole pharmacist of Apexx Pharmacy in Hudson, Florida. He is facing charges of unlawful distribution of controlled substances.
The temporary restraining order was issued by U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The pending complaint seeks to permanently enjoin Esalomi from filling prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances, and from owning or supervising a pharmacy.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad in the Tampa District Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn B. Tapie and Trial Attorneys Thomas S. Rosso and Scott B. Dahlquist of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch are handling the case.
The claims made in the complaint are merely allegations that the United States must prove if the case proceeds to trial.
Esalomi has not been found guilty of any crime and is presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
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Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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