A Miami woman who co-owns Atlantic Biologicals Corporation has agreed to pay $500,000 to resolve claims she violated the Controlled Substances Act by failing to report suspicious orders of controlled substances. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Karen Moody, 64, is the co-owner of Atlantic Biologicals Corporation, a wholesale distributor licensed with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to distribute Schedule II-V controlled substances. The company is based in Miami and operates warehouses in both Miami and Morrisville, North Carolina. It distributed pharmaceutical products through National Apothecary Solutions.
According to DEA records, between 2018 and at least March 2023, nearly all opioids distributed by NAS were sold to pharmacies in the Houston area. These included mostly hydrocodone/acetaminophen and oxycodone at their highest strengths—medications that are often diverted into illegal markets in Houston. During this period, millions of opioid dosage units as well as large quantities of other frequently abused drugs such as carisoprodol, alprazolam, and promethazine with codeine were distributed.
The Controlled Substances Act requires distributors to maintain controls against theft or diversion of these substances and mandates reporting of suspicious orders along with customer due diligence. Allegations state that NAS failed to report any suspicious orders despite at least 128 instances involving unusually large amounts or unusual patterns.
“For half a decade, Moody and Atlantic Biologicals turned a blind eye to keeping these dangerous and addictive controlled substances out of the wrong hands. Now, her bill has come due,” said U.S. Attorney Ganjei. “Moody will personally pay $500,000 to the United States; this is in addition to the $450,000 her company is paying. When distributors fail to identify and report suspicious orders of controlled substances, they are a part of the problem—and they will face the consequences.”
“NAS is the latest example of a drug wholesaler profiting at the expense of Houstonians, fueling the opioid crisis by allowing millions of highly addictive controlled substances to slip into the wrong hands,” said Special Agent in Charge Brian C. Leardo from DEA’s Houston Division. “The DEA is committed to holding companies like NAS accountable and combating the illegal diversion of controlled substances that drives drug overdose deaths and crime in our communities.”
The investigation was conducted by DEA agents while Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill O. Venezia prosecuted the case.
Authorities clarified that these settlement claims are allegations only; there has been no admission of liability.
