RX Discount of Berea, P.L.L.C., Pseudoephedrine Sales, Kentucky 2017

Berea, KY, resident Lonnie W. Hubbard, 41, owner and manager of RX Discount of Berea, P.L.L.C., a retail pharmacy in Berea, has been fined $4,474,000 for illegally selling pseudoephedrine. The U.S. District Court in Lexington, KY entered a civil judgment in favor of the United States against Hubbard and his pharmacy, RX Discount of Berea, P.L.L.C.

According to the United States’ civil complaint, from 2009 through 2012, Hubbard knowingly or recklessly sold at retail over 1,000 100-count bottles of pseudoephedrine, in violation of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Further, RX Discount was not certified under the CSA to sell pseudoephedrine, from January 1, 2011 through June 8, 2011, July 1, 2012 through July 18, 2012, and August 1, 2013 through March 29, 2014.

As part of the civil settlement, Hubbard and RX Discount of Berea, P.L.L.C. acknowledged that they engaged in this misconduct, and the civil judgment holds them liable under the CSA. The judgment also imposes civil monetary penalties against them: $4,000 for each sale of 100-count bottles of pseudoephedrine, and $10,000 for each period RX Discount failed to be properly certified to sell pseudoephedrine, for a total of $4,474,000.

In a related criminal case, Hubbard was convicted of 71 counts involving the illegal sales of oxycodone, hydrocodone, and pseudoephedrine and money laundering in February 2017. Hubbard was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment. Hubbard’s wife, Meggan, who also worked at RX Discount, is currently incarcerated, serving five months for her involvement in purchasing property using funds from the unlawful sales of prescription drugs and pseudoephedrine.

The investigation of the civil case was conducted by the DEA, the Office of the Inspector General for the Cabinet of Health and Family Services, and the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Corndorf represented the United States.

This is not the first time Hubbard has faced the law. Hubbard was convicted of 71 counts involving the illegal sales of oxycodone, hydrocodone, and pseudoephedrine and money laundering in February 2017. Hubbard was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment. Hubbard’s wife, Meggan, who also worked at RX Discount, is currently incarcerated, serving five months for her involvement in purchasing property using funds from the unlawful sales of prescription drugs and pseudoephedrine.

The $4,474,000 fine is a significant blow to Hubbard and RX Discount of Berea, P.L.L.C. The pharmacy’s actions have had severe consequences, including Hubbard’s 30-year prison sentence and his wife’s five-month incarceration.