Two Maryland men appeared in U.S. District Court in Roanoke on May 8 after conspiring with Dr. Rotimi Iluyomade, an Annandale-based doctor, to illegally distribute promethazine-codeine and other controlled substances. Obioma Alozie Ndubuka, also known as “Bank Roll,” of Derwood, Maryland, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in February to conspiracy charges related to the distribution of Schedule II controlled substances and obtaining promethazine-codeine solution by fraud. Kenechukwu Brian Okwara, also known as “Kene,” of Bowie, Maryland, pleaded guilty on the same day to similar charges.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to address prescription drug abuse and illegal distribution networks operating across state lines. The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia prosecutes federal crimes and handles civil litigation for the government. It partners with law enforcement to bolster public safety and runs crime prevention initiatives. The office maintains sites in several cities across western Virginia, according to the official website.
Court documents show that between at least 2023 and 2024, Iluyomade worked with co-conspirators—including Ndubuka and Okwara—to distribute oxycodone pills and hydrocodone-chlorpheniramine solution through pharmacies in multiple states such as California, Colorado, Nebraska, Arizona, Missouri, Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, Rhode Island, Georgia, Wisconsin, Texas, West Virginia as well as both Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia. At least seventy prescriptions were filled at pharmacies within the Western District of Virginia.
As part of this scheme individuals visited Iluyomade’s clinic providing lists containing fake patient information so fraudulent prescriptions could be sent nationwide. Ndubuka picked up these prescriptions from various pharmacies for resale—sometimes advertising them on social media—and paid about $300 per prescription written under variations of his surname using different addresses but a single phone number.
Okwara obtained fraudulent prescriptions directly from Iluyomade at Crossover Medical Center before selling access or "slots" for others seeking similar drugs. Other defendants named include Cameron Isaiah Lewis; Elhadj Malick Diallo; Zion Oluwademilade Adeduwon (who was sentenced earlier); Yared Michael Tesfaye; and Raymono Alfonzo Russel II.
The investigation began when Russell attempted to pick up a fraudulent prescription at a pharmacy in Honaker leading authorities to discover multiple bottles prescribed by Iluyomade under various names filled throughout southwest Virginia locations such as Roanoke Radford Tazewell Floyd.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), state police agencies from Virginia and Nebraska along with local departments are investigating this case which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lena Busscher and Randy Ramseyer.
