FORT MYERS, FL – In a shocking turn of events, Jorge Otano (53), owner of St. Jude’s Pharmacy in Cape Coral, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute oxycodone outside the usual course of professional practice for other than legitimate medical purposes.
According to court documents, from August 2009 to November 15, 2012, St. Jude’s Pharmacy made a significant profit by filling fraudulent prescriptions for oxycodone and charging $4.00 to $12.00 per pill. The pharmacy’s profits were staggering, with Otano and his wife, Martha, making a fortune off the illicit sales.
But the scheme didn’t stop there. From April 2011 to November 15, 2012, the Otanos made structured cash deposits of the proceeds of the illegal narcotics sales into a domestic financial institution. They knew that the money obtained from the sale of oxycodone through the pharmacy was the proceeds of unlawful narcotics distribution.
The Otanos used the ill-gotten gains to purchase two residences in Cape Coral, a 2012 Chevrolet truck, and a 2013 Mercedes Benz vehicle. It’s a reckless display of wealth that has finally caught up with them.
Martha Otano previously pleaded guilty for her role in this case and was sentenced on July 21, 2014, to three years and one month in federal prison. Her husband’s fate is now uncertain, but one thing is clear – he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and the distribution charges.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorneys David G. Lazarus and Yolande G. Viacava are prosecuting the case.
It’s a victory for law enforcement and a stark reminder that crime doesn’t pay. Jorge Otano’s guilty plea marks the end of a long and complex investigation, but it’s just the beginning for those who have been affected by his actions.
The people of Cape Coral can rest a little easier knowing that justice is being served. But the real question remains – how many more St. Jude’s Pharmacies are out there, peddling their wares to unsuspecting victims?
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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