A federal jury in Brooklyn has convicted pharmacists Yousef Ennab and Mohamed Hassan of illegally distributing oxycodone. The verdict, delivered after a three-week trial before United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly, finds both men guilty on all counts related to the distribution and possession with intent to distribute the drug. They each face up to 60 years in prison.
The case was prosecuted by John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, alongside several law enforcement agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
“The defendants abused their access to oxycodone and violated the trust placed in them as pharmacists by illegally agreeing to supply drug dealers with tens of thousands of pills,” stated United States Attorney Durham. He added that this verdict demonstrates a commitment to addressing criminal conduct contributing to the opioid epidemic.
DEA Special Agent Frank A. Tarentino III remarked, “Today’s verdict against Yousef Ennab and Mohamed Hassan sends a strong message to anyone in the medical profession willing to betray their patients’ trust.” He emphasized that those who abuse their authority will be prosecuted fully.
The investigation revealed that Hassan owned multiple pharmacies across Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island under various names such as Nile RX and Forest Care, where Ennab worked as a supervising pharmacist. These establishments filled prescriptions from a Brooklyn-based practice operating as a pill mill without proper patient examinations.
IRS-CI Special Agent Harry T. Chavis Jr., HHS-OIG Special Agent Naomi Gruchacz, NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber, and New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James V. McDonald also contributed statements underscoring the gravity of these offenses amid an ongoing opioid crisis.
Evidence presented at trial included video footage showing Ennab accepting cash payments for oxycodone prescriptions intended for sham patients. In total, over 1.2 million pills were distributed illegally with a street value exceeding $36 million.
Six co-defendants have pleaded guilty for their roles in this scheme while Michael Kent received a nine-year sentence following his guilty plea.
These convictions are part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking across the United States.
Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Zuckerwise, Victor Zapana, Gilbert M. Rein led the prosecution efforts supported by Paralegal Specialists Rachel Friedman and Nadya Osman along with Assistant United States Attorney Claire Kedeshian handling forfeiture matters.
