Grosse Pointe Park Pharmacist Convicted on Drug Charges

DETROIT - Hasna Bashir Iwas, 62, of New Baltimore, who owned and operated the former Beacon Pointe Pharmacy in Grosse Pointe Park, was convicted last week by a federal jury on 26 charges related to the unlawful distribution of Schedule II, III, IV and V prescription drug-controlled substances.  The verdict was announced by United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

Joining Ison in the announcement were Orville Greene, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent-In-Charge, United States Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General.

The charges resulted from the defendant’s operation of Beacon Pointe Pharmacy, in Grosse Pointe Park, during the time period of 2013-2018.  Evidence at trial showed she engaged in several interrelated criminal schemes.  The defendant regularly filled forged prescriptions for controlled substances presented to her by one or two individuals.  The 1,291 forged prescriptions were presented in the names of over 50 different “patients.”  The defendant received over $640,000 in cash in exchange for filling the forged prescriptions.  Although the defendant initially insisted each of the individual patients was present in her pharmacy when the forged prescriptions were filled, evidence at trial showed that several of the patients were dead, in prison, or were actually never in the pharmacy at all.  

Video evidence revealed the defendant distributing controlled drugs to the pill dealers/forgers in prescription pill bottles without required labeling.  Without a label containing the pharmacy name, patient’s name, drug strength, quantity and directions for use, the pills could not be traced back to her pharmacy when they were sold on the street.  The defendant shredded the labels that should have been on the pill bottles.  

An audit of the defendant’s pharmacy showed massive shortages of controlled substances that left the pharmacy without any prescriptions at all.  Over 70,000 dosage units of Oxycodone 30mg and over 36,000 dosage units of Xanax 2mg were purchased, delivered to the pharmacy, and not dispensed under any prescription. 

Iwas is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Laurie Michelson on February 20, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. Iwas was convicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and 25 individual counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances.

After the conviction Judge Michelson remanded the defendant to custody pending sentencing.  

 “My office is dedicated to stemming the tide of opioid addiction and the terrible consequences to our families in the Eastern District,”  stated U.S. Attorney Ison. We will pursue these drug dealers whether they are distributing drugs in the streets or through a pharmacy.” 

“The conviction of Ms. Iwas exemplifies DEA’s determination to combat the diversion of prescription medication. Iwas abused her pharmacist license to enrich herself and in so doing, she knowingly fueled the deadly opioid epidemic currently gripping our nation,” said Orville Greene, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

"Medical professionals, and others engaged in the delivery of healthcare services, who exploit opioid addiction and facilitate the diversion of highly addictive medications for financial gain, undermine critical efforts to suppress and eliminate the opioid crisis throughout the country.” said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that bad actors are held accountable for such egregious disregard for public safety.”

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Detroit Police Department. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Wayne F. Pratt and Jihan Williams